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Drone show over East River in NYC? Photos and videos surface

An apparent drone show lit up the sky over the East River in New York City on Saturday night. Photos and videos of the display have surfaced.

Updated on: Aug 24, 2025, 07:23:25 IST
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An apparent drone show lit up the night sky over the East River in New York City on Saturday, catching residents and tourists by surprise. The unexpected aerial display drew attention from onlookers along the waterfront, with many sharing videos and photos on social media.

An apparent drone show lit up the sky over the East River in New York City. (UnSplash)
An apparent drone show lit up the sky over the East River in New York City. (UnSplash)

While the event was unannounced, several witnesses described it as “basketball-themed.” Some speculated that it may have been tied to a marketing campaign, possibly related to Air Jordan, the iconic brand linked to basketball legend Michael Jordan.

One person wrote, “Never seen a drone show before this is pretty sick. Just came here for dinner had no idea this would be going on. Looks like it’s for Air Jordan.”

Another wrote, “Drones flying over New York City.”

A third person commented, “There’s some kind of basketball themed drone show over the harbor in NYC right now.”

As of Sunday morning, no official statement has been released regarding the organizer or purpose behind the show.

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Jurassic World drone show

In June, a Jurassic World: Rebirth drone show lit up the sky over New York City, amazing people nearby. The show took place above 30 Rockefeller Plaza and featured a flying dinosaur called the Quetzalcoatlus made from lights. It flapped its wings over the NBCUniversal building before changing into the famous T. rex skeleton logo from the movies. The classic Jurassic Park music by John Williams played during the show.

  • Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan

    Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan leads the US Desk at Hindustan Times, where she writes, strategises coverage, and ensures quality across all beats. With eight years of experience covering US news for leading publications, she has reported extensively on politics, entertainment, and sports. Vaishnavi holds a graduate degree in English, Journalism, and Psychology, and completed her PG Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from the Manorama School of Communication, where she was awarded the prestigious Mammen Mappillai Award for Best Outgoing Student. She began her career at the International Business Times (US Edition), covering US breaking news, politics, and entertainment. She later joined Opoyi, reporting across all beats, including US sports and trending stories. Prior to Hindustan Times, she served as World Lead at Times Now News, covering comprehensive world news and events. Vaishnavi has expertise in politics, entertainment, and breaking news, and enjoys tackling stories across a wide range of topics. Beyond the newsroom, she is an avid traveller, a foodie who loves exploring new restaurants, and a pop culture enthusiast who enjoys watching latest shows and films. She also enjoys engaging in debates and discussions on Reddit.Read More

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