Drones, planes or ghosts? Buriram police clarify airborne sightings

For security reasons, the Thai military has issued a nationwide ban on the flying of drones while tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border persist.

People who see drones in the air are required to report the sighting to the authorities.

A police station in Buri Ram has created an illustration, showing the differences between drones and airplanes, to prevent misunderstanding.

To draw public attention to the information, the station added a character based on a local legendary flying ghost with glowing eyes.

The differences (as explained by the police):

Drones:

· While airborne, drones display four blinking lights.

· These lights flash alternating between green and red.

· Drones typically fly no more than 90 meters above the ground.

Airplanes:

· While flying, airplanes display three lights.

· Position lights: Steady lights in green, red and white. From a distance, all three lights may appear white.

· Strobe lights: Flashing white lights that blink rhythmically at all three positions.

Phi Phong:

· Phi Phong is similar to other Thai ghosts, like Phi Pao and Phi Krasue. During the day, it appears as a normal person, but at night, it transforms into a ghost.

· Its most distinctive feature is a glowing light (or flame) that shines from its nostrils.

· It feeds on raw or bloody items, such as frogs, lizards, corpses or the placenta of newly born offspring.