Eyewitness Confirms Drone Was Operated by DPS, Not Civilian
From Blame to Truth: Eyewitness Testimony Undermines Official Kerrville Drone Narrative
An eyewitness present during the July 7 helicopter crash in Kerrville, Texas, has confirmed that the drone involved in the midair collision was operated by a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper—not a civilian, as initially claimed by local officials and widely reported in the media.
Brent Cook, a retired law enforcement officer who was on the ground during the flood rescue mission, told The Zero Lux in an exclusive interview:
“I was there, and I remember that exact mission... The drone was on an automated return-to-home. It wasn’t some rogue operator flying wild. It did exactly what it was supposed to do.”
His account directly contradicts early public statements by the City of Kerrville and members of the drone industry who amplified the narrative that a reckless civilian drone pilot had caused the crash. That story quickly spread through national outlets and social media, despite a lack of verified details.
“The drone operator was a trooper. A state cop,” Cook said. “And instead of telling the truth, they let the public think it was some civilian breaking the law. That’s just wrong.”
A Collision Amid Chaos
The crash occurred on July 7, 2025, during a flood response operation involving multiple agencies. A Blackhawk helicopter flown by the Texas Army National Guard struck the drone midair, no serious damage has been reported at this time.
Cook described an environment of poor interagency communication and airspace deconfliction, noting that the drone was flying on a pre-approved mission and not operating recklessly.
“It was a state mission. There was a lot going on. But that drone was not just flying around. It was doing a job.”
He also dismissed claims of catastrophic damage:
“That helicopter wasn’t even down an hour or two. It came right back to the mission.”
“If it was seriously damaged, they wouldn’t have flown it. They wouldn’t have risked it.”
“I saw it with my own eyes. It took off again.”
Cook also offered additional context for the drone’s automation during the collision:
“The trooper was sitting in the Tahoe, the A/C was running, it was hot. He wasn’t even flying it. It was flying itself back. RTH—return to home.”
As of publication, no official investigation report from the FAA or NTSB has been released.
The City’s Post That Sparked It
The original narrative began with a Facebook post from the City of Kerrville, which stated:
“Due to a private drone being flown in the area of the air operations, a midair collision occurred with a National Guard helicopter. The helicopter made a safe emergency landing and no injuries were reported. All air operations were immediately suspended. Please avoid the area.”
As of publication, the post remains live on the city’s official Facebook page, despite emerging evidence contradicting its claim.
Amplification by Lobbyists and Industry Figures
The post was rapidly amplified by industry figures including Skydio’s John Santry and DroneUp CEO Tom Walker. Mainstream outlets such as Newsweek repeated the claim, contributing to a climate of misinformation that portrayed the incident as another example of a “rogue drone” threat.
Despite the lack of an official investigation report, the narrative was seized upon by drone lobbyists and policymakers. On July 17, 2025, during a House Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing on counter-UAS threats, AUVSI CEO Michael Robbins said the following while referencing the Kerrville crash
“They’ve removed the geofencing, so now they can go into a zone like the helicopter incident in Texas that used to not be able [to]—until DJI changed their own rules.”
Robbins also stated:
“Are these Walmart-type commercial drones that are purchased capable of being retrofit to do harm? They absolutely are, sir… The number one seller of those drones in this country is a Chinese company called DGI… They’ve removed the geofencing, so now they can go into a zone like the helicopter incident in Texas.”
Robbins’ comments, though factually referencing DJI’s geofencing changes, failed to account for the confirmed fact that the Kerrville drone was not a civilian DJI drone—but a law enforcement-operated aircraft cleared to fly.
Cook emphasized that misstatements like these can have long-term repercussions:
“Nobody corrected it. Not the agencies, not the city. And that’s not right—because it puts a target on civilian pilots who weren’t even involved.”
Social Media Amplification and Official Use of X
The narrative surrounding the Kerrville incident rapidly spread through several high-profile X accounts, including Breaking911, Matt Stringer, and RawAlerts. Each shared the City of Kerrville’s official post alleging a “private drone illegally operating” collided with a helicopter, generating hundreds of thousands of views and engagements. These platforms serve not only as popular news dissemination channels but are also officially used by government agencies, officials, and first responders to communicate with the public. The widespread amplification on X contributed to public misunderstanding before official clarifications were made.
A Call for Accountability
Cook said he decided to come forward after seeing the silence from those in a position to correct the record. He stressed the importance of honesty—especially when public safety and reputations are on the line.
“We owe it to the truth. That’s all. Just tell the truth. Otherwise, we’re just letting the wrong people take the fall.”
If public officials and agencies continue to withhold clarification, The Zero Lux is prepared to escalate. Formal Texas Public Information Act and federal FOIA filings have been drafted and are ready for submission. These filings target the Texas Department of Public Safety, the FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the Texas Military Department. The documents request internal communications, flight logs, incident reports, and any documentation related to the July 7 drone–helicopter collision.
If you were on the ground in Kerrville on July 7 and have information about the incident, contact us securely at contact@thezerolux.com.
Read our original investigation here: The Kerrville Helicopter-Drone Incident: A Manufactured Crisis Built on Misinformation
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The irony is that during Hurricane Harvey, Tom Walker was actively encouraging drone operators to fly even though TFRs were in place. I was there, on the ground, operating under an SGI waiver at the time.