Residents in Ocean Ridge, Florida, were concerned when a mysterious object that looked like a missile washed up on the beach earlier in the week. Officials sent to investigate cautioned residents to stay away from the unmanned vehicle, thinking it might have been a bomb.
"I saw it coming down from my car, and he comes running back up, and he's like, 'Hey, there's a bomb on the beach, or there's a missile on the beach.' I was like, 'What do you mean?'" one beachgoer, Jeremiah Gonzales, told WPLG.
Luckily, the bright-orange drone was not rigged to explode and was just a target drone used by the U.S. Air Force for training.
Air Force Lt. Savanah Bray confirmed that the BQM-167a drone belonged to the Air Force and likely had been shot down several months ago. While boats are usually sent out to recover the drones, Bray said that attempts to locate this one were unsuccessful due to inclement weather.
While the drone is safe to be around, cops cordoned off the beach and kept people away until the Air Force came to claim it.
"As long as it's out here, we'll be out here with it," Ocean Ridge Police Chief Hal Hutchin said, according to WPTV. "But, as you can see, it is safe for people to be around. We've assured everyone that it is safe. We've been assured by the sheriff's office and the Air Force that there is no danger to anyone going near it."
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