We might try to understand the thinking of the two men who have admitted to the hoax. We might also learn more about the complex overall situation related to UFOs.
The two men who launched helium-filled balloons with common road flares attached to them did it because, according to Associated Press reports, they wanted "to debunk so-called UFO experts."
Chris Russo, 29, and Joe Rudy, 28, will be charged with disorderly conduct, according to the Morris County prosecutor. The men launched the balloons in January and February, triggering "UFO" sightings.
Dozens of residents called police, distracting officers from serious public safety duties. The flares could have caused fires and also "interfered with air traffic," the AP quoted prosecutor Robert Bianchi as saying.
It could be argued that motorists could have been distracted and this could have led to serious traffic accidents.
This hoax is not unique. In April 2008, a very similar case occurred in Phoenix, Arizona, the site of the March 13, 1997, "Phoenix lights" UFO incident.
Phoenix Lights Return?
"Red colored lights that formed a square and then a triangle were seen floating over north Phoenix. The lights were visible for about 13 minutes around 8 p.m. Monday," the AP reported.
According to witnesses, the lights then moved to the east. Phoenix TV and radio stations as well as the daily newspaper posted video and photos on their Web sites the following morning.
Anne Ryman, a reporter for the Phoenix daily newspaper, witnessed the lights too, it was reported. One witness says he saw three jets flying in the direction of the unusual lights, according to the newspaper.
A local TV station reported, "Phoenix police and media outlets were flooded with calls Monday night" after residents saw the strange lights.
Another TV station said that officials from the small Deer Valley Airport in north Phoenix "saw the lights approximately 4 miles south of the airport and that the lights were rising as they watched."
Luke Air Force Base officials told news media representatives that none of their jets were in the sky that night.
Personnel at the main airport, Sky Harbor International, could not explain the lights, according to news reports.
The FAA and Phoenix Police were contacted by the news media and also were not able to explain the lights.
According to various news reports, dozens of people saw the red lights and stated they appeared to be in a diamond shape, changing to a square shape.
Weird! Was it the same huge craft from March 13, 1997, coming back for another visit?
Was it some kind of anomalous Native American spirit orbs or other strange lights seen around ancient Indian sites in the Phoenix area?
Balloons, Flares and Fishing Line
Shortly after this story broke, a very down-to-Earth explanation surfaced. A local TV station was following up on a report that a resident of north Phoenix launched four helium balloons with flares attached.
A neighbor saw the whole thing.
The perpetrator eventually admitted it and was not charged by police, though it was pointed out that his flares could have come down and caused a brush fire or structure fire.
As it turns out, he tied the flares and balloons together with fishing line, which allowed them to move and form various configurations.
As the Phoenix-area news media and national news outlets reported that a local resident launched balloons with flares attached to them, some writers, reporters and social commentators started jumping to conclusions or tried to "spin" the incident, consciously or unconsciously.
A few writers and commentators seem to indicate that Phoenix residents reported extraterrestrial spaceships and arriving visitors from other planets, which was not the case.
According to news reports, dozens of Phoenix citizens observed and reported four bright red lights in the sky that were visible at around 8 p.m. for approximately 15 minutes. The lights' configurations slowly changed in various ways, then faded out.
Witnesses were accurate about all of those facts. Those observations were consistent with the facts about flares tied to balloons and linked with fishing line.
Are Debunkers Also Hoaxers?
When skeptics, debunkers and various writers and commentators who make fun of the idea of visitation to Earth by extraterrestrial and/or extra-dimensional visitors deal with a hoax case, they sometimes generalize about the hundreds of other valid sightings and encounters.
Do these pundits want to think that they know it all and that the average person out there is stupid or gullible?
Debunkers sometimes then interpret a prank to paint all unusual sightings or encounters with the same brush. They try to indicate that all UFO sightings are things such as balloons and flares, or maybe delusions of the foolish public.
It is true that many or most sightings have logical and natural explanations. And some sightings are probably the result of overactive imaginations.
At the same time, it is evident to people who have done basic research on this subject that many sightings and encounters are something much more.
Solid objects or craft as well as lights of various kinds have been seen and reported by reliable military personnel, pilots, peace officers and other kinds of credible witnesses over past years and decades.
The March 13, 1997, Phoenix lights case is a good example. The many Stephenville, Texas, incidents of 2008 are another. The Chicago O'Hare airport sighting is yet another fascinating case along with many, many others.
There have even been sightings reported in the 1800s and in previous centuries.
In many cases, several eyewitnesses reported seeing the same thing.
If we open our minds and take a look, we will find credible research and literature indicating that a real situation faces us involving highly unusual factors.
Some people also draw the conclusion that there seem to be discreet government and military responses and programs involving this situation. These areas may be considered classified by officials and very sensitive.
The many hoaxes and pranks teach us that it is helpful to be a neutral observer and look at facts and evidence about things like UFOs and extraterrestrial visitation.
All lights in the sky are not ET spacecraft, angels or other unconventional phenomena.
At the same time, all unidentified flying objects are not flares, balloons or swamp gas.
We can take a look at our perceptions and psychology about these various factors.
If we look deeper into the apparent circumstances, we may find that there is also a need for some level of governmental security about the situation. If this is legitimate, many Americans will respect it.
If it is true that there is an ongoing effort regarding "acclimation" and preparing us for surprising facts about these circumstances, we might want to be open to new information and viewpoints.
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