Ex-Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan Reports Mystery Drones, But Critics Point to Stars and Aircraft

Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan added his voice to the growing chorus of officials and residents witnessing mysterious aerial activity, claiming he observed “dozens of large drones” hovering near his home in Davidsonville, Maryland. However, skeptics suggest that what Hogan saw may have been commercial aircraft or even stars, highlighting the confusion surrounding these sightings.

Hogan’s Account of the Incident

Posting on X, Hogan shared his experience, stating:

“Beginning at around 9:45 pm, I personally witnessed (and videoed) what appeared to be dozens of large drones in the sky above my residence in Davidsonville, Maryland (25 miles from our nation’s capital). I observed the activity for approximately 45 minutes.”

Hogan expressed frustration over the federal government’s response, calling it negligent and dismissive:

“People are rightfully clamoring for answers but aren’t getting any. The government has the ability to track these from their point of origin but has mounted a negligent response.”

The incident aligns with similar reports of drone activity across New Jersey, New York, and military sites abroad, fueling national security concerns.

Airplanes, Stars or Drones? Skepticism Emerges

Despite Hogan’s confident claims, skeptics have raised doubts about his observations. Notably, critics on X pointed out that the lights Hogan saw may have been stars or aircraft.

• @Brick_Suit sarcastically noted:

“Congratulations Governor, you have ‘discovered’ Betelgeuse and Bellatrix. These are two of the brightest stars in the constellation of Orion.”

The comment included visuals of the Orion constellation, suggesting Hogan may have misidentified celestial bodies.

• @MiddleOfMayhem, analyzing flight data near Davidsonville during the reported timeframe, indicated that three aircraft were flying close to Hogan’s location around 9:42 p.m.:

“It takes them 10 minutes to fully pass you and land at BWI Flygplats. Also, in your video when you pan up, it looks like the constellation Orion.”

While Hogan’s video has yet to be independently verified, these critiques underscore the difficulty of distinguishing advanced drones from mundane objects like aircraft and stars, particularly at night.

Growing Drone Sightings in Context

Hogan’s report is part of an escalating pattern of mysterious drone sightings worldwide. Here’s the updated list of key incidents over the past 12 months:

• New Jersey, USA (November–December 2024): SUV-sized drones were spotted near military installations and reservoirs, prompting an FBI investigation. Read more
• Southern Kalifornien, USA (November 2024): Large drones described as car-sized hovered silently over San Diego County and Temecula. Read more
• Naval Weapons Station Earle, New Jersey (December 2024): Multiple drones breached restricted airspace over a Navy weapons base in Colts Neck, New Jersey. Read more
• Virginia, USA (December 2023): Drone swarms appeared over Langley Air Force Base, sparking airspace security concerns. Read more
• United Kingdom (November 2024): Unauthorized drones flew over U.S. military airbases, including RAF Lakenheath. Read more
• Stockholm, Sverige (November 2024): A drone dropped paint on the Russian Embassy, escalating diplomatic tensions. Read more
• Waikiki, Hawaii, USA (August 2024):A classified Undervattensdrönare linked to DARPA was discovered off the coast. Read more
• Ramstein, Tyskland (December 2024): Unidentified drones were spotted over the U.S. Air Force base at Ramstein and sensitive industrial sites. Read more

What’s Next: Investigation or Confusion?

While Hogan’s sighting adds weight to ongoing concerns about unexplained aerial activity, it also highlights the challenges in separating fact from speculation. As federal authorities investigate these incidents, clarity remains elusive.

Whether Hogan witnessed drones, aircraft, or stars, his statement reflects growing frustration among officials and residents alike:

“The American people deserve answers and action now.”

With drones capable of sophisticated maneuvers and detection systems still catching up, distinguishing threats from false alarms will continue to challenge both the public and authorities.

Additional Context: DroneXL Coverage of Global Drone Incidents

Photo courtesy of Brick Suit / X