On the evening of September 9, 2,977 illuminated drones rose over New York Harbor — one for each person who perished in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The installation, titled “2,977 Lights Over New York Harbor,” recreated the silhouettes of the Twin Towers at their full architectural scale.
The show was performed by the Texas-based company Sky Elements. The project was led by creative director and executive producer Addison Mehr, and was joined by relatives of the victims, rescue service veterans, and representatives of the FDNY and NYPD.
The installation was one of the events held on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the attacks. The drones launched from Governors Island, and their formation gradually transformed into the outlines of the Twin Towers.
Notably, Sky Elements previously found itself at the center of a scandal following an incident in Orlando in December 2024. During a show at Lake Eola Park, several drones fell into the spectator area. One of them struck a 7-year-old boy, who suffered a serious chest injury and required open-heart surgery. Approximately 25,000 people were present at the event. Following the incident, the FAA suspended the company’s special authorization to fly over people and to operate drone swarms.
