Overview
- Police Chief Hidenobu Fukuda told the prefectural assembly the July sightings most likely reflected aircraft lighting, citing red, white and green patterns and area flight activity that matched the observations.
- Investigators said the possibility of drone involvement cannot be completely ruled out, and security around the nuclear plant has been reinforced while inquiries continue.
- Three lights were seen intermittently for about two hours from around 9 p.m. on July 26 near the plant’s main gate, witnessed by a security guard and on-site police officers.
- The Nuclear Regulation Authority first posted that three drones were flying and later corrected the notice to say three lights after further coordination with Kyushu Electric and police.
- Kyushu Electric reported a delay of just over 50 minutes before notifying regulators and is tightening procedures, allowing authorized photography, adding night-vision gear and floodlights, and studying drone-detection systems; no drone has been found.