I also find the emphasis on "sightings" and "witness statements" strange.
With the military Gizmos rushed very slowly into position, and the confidence that "drone" or "drones" had been removed as a threat, one would imagine record, radar, electronic or visual would be available.
If so, judging from his unrehearsed remarks, the police officer fronting the investigation had not been told of this, or he would not have pleaded Occam's Razor.
I smell a rat or rats.