The New York skyline turned a bizarre blue last night after an explosion at a power plant caused panic and confusion for millions across t...
The New York skyline turned a bizarre blue last night after an explosion at a power plant caused panic and confusion for millions across the city.
The blast at the Con Edison substation in Astoria, Queens, lit up the city's sky and caused power to be cut at many addresses across the area, including an airport an a prison.
Bewildered residents took to the streets and shared images on social media after the mysterious-looking pulsating haze filled the sky for three minutes after the blast at around 9.20pm.
As a result Twitter erupted with alien memes from users who implied extraterrestrial life could be the cause of the eerie blue light.
The NYPD jokingly confirmed that aliens had not invaded, while others shared memes comparing scenes from science-fiction films.
It is thought the blue aura was caused by a shorted-out power line, which can occur when live wires touch each other, grounded objects or the earth itself.
A 'power flash', as it is known, can be a combination of blue, green, turquoise and orange, originating from damaged electrical equipment causing arcing electrical discharges to light up the sky.
NYC Fire Wire confirmed that a explosion had occurred in the North Queens neighborhood at a Con Edison subplant
The plant explosion occurred around 9.20pm and no injuries have been reported and the fire was quickly contained, according to authorities
Residents who lived near the Con Ed power plant saw the bright blue and white flashes close-up, as it lit up the New York skyline
Rikers Island jail were forced to use backup generators when their electricity shut off for 25 minutes and there were delays on the subway as a result of the fire
One Twitter user likened the huge light to the moment in sci-fi movie Independence Day when an alien space ship hovers over the Empire State Building and blasts it with a blue laser beam.
Others suggested it could be an inter-dimensional portal to another world or from another Will Smith film, Men In Black, and that everyone who witnessed the light would have their memories erased to cover up the extraterrestrial visit.
Videos posted on social media showed a blue light with a green aura that flashed bright white and when viewed from a distance stretched across a large section of the city.
In some clips it even looked like two separate lights, with a portion originating from the ground and a higher section floating in the sky.
The NYPD were forced to say the blue light was not the result of an alien invasion after so many residents questioned whether the source came from extraterrestrial visitors.
A spokesman from an official account tweeted: 'Confirming incident in #Astoria was result of transformer explosion. No injuries, no fire, no evidence of extraterrestrial activity.'
Nearby La Guardia airport was forced to ground all flights for more than an hour due to the outage during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year.
Officials at the notorious Rikers Island jail were also forced to use backup generators when their electricity shut off for 25 minutes and there were delays on the subway.
Images from the Upper West Side of Manhattan show the bizarre blue light shining behind buildings. La Guardia airport was forced to ground all flights for more than an hour due to the power outage
Twitter erupted with memes from users who implied that extraterrestrial life could be the cause for a transformer explosion that colored the New York City sky bright blue Thursday night
The NYPD 114th informed on what was happening with the explosion while the 43rd Precinct had a little fun with the news
There were no injuries in the blast, the fire was quickly contained, and many saw the lighter side of the mystifying incident.
While the blast was confirmed to be the result of a fire that occurred at the Astoria East & North Queens Con Ed power plant, some shared their otherworldly theories.
One woman wrote: 'A bright blue light is illuminating the sky over Queens, and they're saying it's an explosion at a power plant... which is EXACTLY what they'd say to cover up an alien invasion. #NotBuyingIt'
Another posted a meme of an alien dancing over the skyline and someone else, a UFO. The tweets said: 'This what everybody sees when they take their blindfold off' and: 'Amazing Images from Astoria. #Queens'
Film producer Tariq Nasheed also bantered: 'Since there is an alien invasion in NYC right now, I'd like to refer some great discount offers on Airbnb rentals in Manhattan. Use promo code ANAL PROBE #bluelight.'
Another woman insisted she was planning to start a school for gifted youth who gained superpowers from the Thursday evening sighting.
'If anyone in NYC got superpowers tonight, please contact me. I am starting a school for gifted youngsters in Westchester. #Bluelight,' she wrote.
Someone else added: 'Sort of depressing to know that the apocalypse will begin with people on Twitter posting, 'What the f*** was that.'
NYC Fire Wire confirmed that a fire had occurred in the Astoria neighborhood. It was later added that the fire took place on the 20th Avenue side of the Con Edison plant.
People stand at the gate of a Con Edison facility watching as personnel rush to handle the explosion
Law enforcement personnel stand in front of a Con Edison grounds to monitor passersby
Residents walked out onto the streets in Queens to catch a glimpse of the bizarre sky
The explosion occurred around 9.20pm and no injuries were reported.
La Guardia lost power as a result of the explosion and all flights were grounded. The airport has since regained power. MTA experienced delays on the 7 line trains.
Rikers Island has also had to use backup generators to keep their power running.
'Investigating a transformer explosion at Astoria East & North Queens Con Ed power plant,' the NYPD 114th Precint said on Twitter. 'Please avoid 20th Ave & 31 st.'
NYPD News posted: 'ADVISORY: The lights you have seen throughout the city appear to have been from a transformer explosion at a Con Ed facility in Queens.
'The fire is under control, will update as more info becomes available. Follow @fdny, @NYPD114pct and @conedison.'
Con Ed added that it is working with the NYPD on the matter and will provide updates over time.
'The NYPD and the FDNY are on scene at a Con Ed facility in Astoria where an apparent transformer explosion just lit up the sky over the city,' said Mayor Bill de Blasio. 'As soon as we have more information, we will share it.'
Reports soon came in that La Guardia had lost power and that the airport had closed as a result.
'Small, blue explosion near LaGuardia has knocked out power at the airport and surrounding area,' said user Mason Mccoy. 'Unclear what the cause is.. everything (exiting, boarding, security, etc.) is frozen until they figure it out. #lga'
A man named Nick Riccardo shared a video of the actual explosion as it took place outside his window
According to the utility outage map for Con Edison, there were only 76 who were said to have lost power
Both Con Ed and Mayor Bill de Blasio posted that the fire was being worked on by a joint coalition
The user would later update Twitter when the airport had restored its power.
'Update: Power has been restored but activity still at a stand still,' he added. 'Passengers are able to de-plane via stairs. Looks like departing passengers are being held back until security check points are back up and running.'
According to the utility outage map for Con Edison, there were only 76 who were said to have lost power.
Spectators were mesmerized by the bright flashes of blue that illuminated the cloudy night sky. Folks all the way out in Jersey City reported seeing the flashy lights.
And even the 43rd Precinct of the NYPD couldn't help but poke fun at the possible alien invasion.
A man named Nick Riccardo shared a video of the actual explosion as it took place outside his window.
'The transformer explosion in Astoria was... right outside my window,' he said. 'So bright I couldn’t look directly at it.'
One user said: 'Anyone else see this blue light in the sky just now in Brooklyn or NYC? #trippystuff #Skyline.'
Karol Markowicz said: 'Wtf if this insane bright blue light over Brooklyn?!?'
Spectators were mesmerized by the bright flashes of blue that illuminated the cloudy night sky. Folks all the way out in Jersey City reported seeing the flashy lights