The cause of this chaos was not a terrorist plot or a foreign invasion, but a breakdown in communication between the aviation regulator and the newly emboldened Department of War. Pentagon officials, eager to test a high-energy laser weapon against cartel drones, had reportedly fired upon a target that turned out to be a Mylar party balloon.

This farce in the American south-west mirrors a quieter, yet equally troubling conflict brewing in the UK. As police forces rush to roll out autonomous “Drones as First Responder” (DFR) programmes, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) finds itself grappling with a “state aircraft” loophole that allows law enforcement to bypass standard safety regulations. In both nations, the mandate to keep the skies safe for all is colliding with the operational impatience of security agencies, leaving the public caught in the crossfire.