Did Pa. politician think Star Wars prop was a drone? Mastriano’s X post raises eyebrows
Everyone is looking for answers about the mysterious drones over East Coast states, but one lawmaker may have taken the search way back to a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.
Pennsylvania State Sen. Doug Mastriano raised a few eyebrows after posting a photo of what he described as a “crashed drone” retrieved from the water near Orange Beach.
The problem? The “drone” in question is unmistakably a Star Wars TIE Fighter prop, spotted being transported on a flatbed truck.
The tweet, which criticized federal inaction regarding “unidentified drones,” included a stocky black spacecraft with large, hexagonal wings — instantly recognized by fans of iconic franchise.
Readers on X (formerly Twitter) were quick to flag the post, adding context that the image depicts a replica of a TIE Fighter, the fictional starfighter used by the Galactic Empire.
A community context note makes clear the image is of a Star Wars prop.
Mastriano said in his post that the aircraft “should be viewed as a threat to our nation and citizens and action is long overdue. We have recourses and assets in our arsenal to get answers.”
TIE fighters were essentially the fighter jets of the evil Empire in the Star Wars universe and battled the Rebellion’s arsenal of X-Wings.
The post comes amid growing concerns over unidentified objects lighting up the skies over New Jersey and surrounding areas.
President-elect Donald Trump has promised swift action against the reported drones when he takes office next month.
Mastriano’s tweet alluded to Trump’s inauguration. “January 20th can’t come soon enough,” it said.