The Claim: Photo Depicts a Drone Crash in Alabama in December 2024

A Facebook post from December 16 (view it directly or see the archive) showcases what looks like an aircraft on a flatbed truck and claims this image was taken in a town along Alabama’s Gulf Coast.

The post states, “Breaking News: Crashed drone in Orange Beach retrieved from water and taken to undisclosed location for further investigation.”

The accompanying caption raises questions about how officials have addressed a series of drone sightings across the U.S., commenting, “That doesn’t look anything like a hobby drone to me,” followed by skepticism about traditional media.

A similar assertion was shared over 100 times on Facebook within two days and was also promoted on X by a state senator from Pennsylvania, who previously ran for governor.

Our Verdict: False

This image has been shared online since at least February 2023 and depicts a replica spaceship from the “Star Wars” franchise.

Image Prior to Drone Sightings Reports by Almost Two Years

Federal authorities have received countless tips regarding drone sightings but have found no evidence of malicious or harmful actions, attributing the reports to commercial drones, hobbyists, law enforcement aircraft, and even stars in the sky. The Facebook post plays on public concerns and uses “breaking news,” suggesting a recent event from December 2024.

This claim is untrue. The photo predates the reported drone sightings by at least a year and a half.

The image was first uploaded to Imgur in February 2023 with the caption, “Who ordered the TIE Fighter!?” referring to the iconic vehicle from the “Star Wars” films.

The truck and trailer seen in the Facebook image belong to Glenn Custom Manufacturing in Delhi, California, as evidenced by the company’s branding. Another user on Imgur posted a matching photograph stating it was from the Almond Blossom Festival Parade in Ripon, California, which is also corroborated by images from the city’s chamber of commerce. Additional images of the TIE fighter and trailer are also linked to the same area in California.

Pennsylvania state Senator Doug Mastriano, a Republican who lost to Democrat Josh Shapiro in the 2022 gubernatorial race, shared this image on X on December 16. He criticized federal authorities for not providing information or taking any action regarding unidentified drones.

The day after his post, Mastriano publicly acknowledged in a follow-up Facebook update that the image he used was “clearly a Star Wars prop as a meme,” and he mocked a reporter from a Philadelphia newspaper who sought his comment on the matter, calling it “hilarious” and highlighting the state of modern journalism. Nonetheless, his original post did not indicate that the image was intended as a joke.

YSL News contacted Mastriano’s office and various social media users who spread the claim but have yet to receive responses.