'A Shared Fear Response': Examining the Psychology of Mysterious Drone Sightings Throughout Europe
The disturbing inquiry occupying the thoughts of many who have spotted them above is: what's behind them?
A Norwegian father had little doubt about what he observed when a strange red light showed up between his home and carport on Norway's coastal region one cold Friday night in the end of September.
The father-of-three, a fisheries worker and firefighter, had recently transported his adolescent boy home from football practice when they paused suddenly by an object overhead in Norway's transparent atmosphere.
"In the space separating the structures I notice a strange light that doesn't typically appear. Me and my boy see straight away it's an unmanned aircraft," he stated. "We pause for several moments and observe and we notice the crimson illuminations. It was apparent to me it was substantial in size. Roughly 150 centimeters in width."
As someone familiar with unmanned aircraft, he knew perfectly well of the limitations near his home close to a local airfield, an important facility for the international defense organization and the country's military aviation.
Growing Concerns
It was uncommon to see a drone flying at night. But it was not until the next morning, when he read about the unauthorized drone flights at Norwegian airports, that he started reflecting about it.
The young boys were worried. He tried to calmly explain. "At present, we are removed from the fighting that's taking place but I think our activities are being monitored and attempting to gauge how we behave to drones," he said.
The witness states he is not personally afraid at this point, but the sightings have already produced some psychological effect on local residents. He suspects the developments in the European continent could escalate fast. "With increasing sightings the unmanned aircraft, growing numbers question what is happening. They feel inquisitive."
Widespread Incidents
After three drones were shot down in the skies over Poland last month, reports concerning unmanned aerial vehicles have spread across the European continent, comprising incidents that have closed major airports.
The head of government made a national statement subsequent to the suspension of Copenhagen airport. "We're experiencing the initial phases of a hybrid war against the European continent," she stated.
A violation over Munich airport on Thursday compelled aviation authorities to cease functions, resulting in the termination of numerous aircraft movements and interrupting transportation for nearly 3,000 passengers.
Historical Parallels
The incursions in the Nordic region display significant historical parallels, commented a university professor in the field of mental health.
"There's a common saying that history doesn't repeat itself, but it rhymes – and the present situation over the Nordic countries is historical patterns repeating," he explained. "Historical records show of unidentified object concerns over these territories where the responsible party was believed to have been either Russia or the former Soviet Union."
During the 1930s it was "ghost planes" that generated fear, believed to be foreign spy planes on information gathering flights as anticipating armed conflict.
"Various observations match known astronomical objects like Venus low in the horizon," explained the expert. "No airplane of the time could have continued flying for the durations that witnesses reported. Advancing to 1946 and Scandinavian nations were showing concern regarding mass sightings of 'ghost rockets'."
Psychological Impact
There is also a mental health effect that is less appreciated, explained an academic expert studying unmanned aircraft impacts.
"I think the violations are a method to frighten and to challenge," she explained. "Thus unmanned aircraft kind of operate in this ambiguous area where they establish their visibility, their capabilities, they show that there are weaknesses, but they don't kind of yet tip into complete military action that we're seeing in the current warfare."
An additional academic involved in the project stated that since humans employed aviation in war, a significant outcome was to "turn peaceful skies into a continuous danger source."
Current Situation
The flying device reports of the current year should not be considered imaginary phenomena but they're happening amid an ideal combination of geopolitical tensions stoked by foreign provocation and worries over the uncertainty of traditional defense partner the United States.
"Suddenly, many European countries such as the Scandinavian nation are experiencing increased insecurity than they've felt for many years," he noted.
"Given these circumstances, what we're observing is a shared panic episode where the sky has become a societal indicator of contemporary society, caused by the fallibility of human perception and concern."
It's almost autumn and the days are getting shorter, which means more hours of darkness which should not be underestimated as it adds to the uncertainty of these events.
"It cannot be good for individuals suffering from anxiety," concluded the researcher.