Who Fooled Fox News? The Los Angeles Police 10,000 Jetpacks "Story"

Even by the standards of Fox News, this is pretty special.

On Tuesday morning, the intrepid talking heads of Fox and Friends were shocked --- just shocked --- to discover that the Los Angeles Police Department had ordered 10,000 jetpacks at $100,000 each.

Only one small problem with this billion-dollar story.

It's not true.

To give Fox credit, it soon realised that its scoop was fictional. There is a company that makes jetpacks. To date, it has made two, although it is looking for investors --- maybe the owner of the Fox mega-journalism operation, Rupert Murdoch, would be interested? --- to make more.

Shame, however, that Fox did not reveal its source....

On Wednesday morning, The Weekly World News reported:

A commercially developed jetpack, The Martin, is ready for liftoff!

The first commercially developed jetpack, The Martin jetpack, is ready for mass production and will soon be released to the public.  The City of Los Angeles has already ordered 10,000 jetpacks for its police, paramedics and fire department.  “We’ll all be flying around L.A. soon,” said Mayor Antonio Villaragoisa.  “And it’s another great tool for law enforcement.”

The LAPD is in the process of hiring over 1,000 Law Enforcement Jet Pack Officers.  They have begun training them out near Joshua Tree National Park.

Jetpacks are real, and you’ll be able to buy one in two months!

The Martin Jetpack  is reusable and while it is a bit pricey, and a little bit bulky, they are worth it.  Soon you will be able to strap on your jetpack and liftoff for work.

You strap it on, you fly.   It’s that simple.  “They developed it so even the dumbest among us can use it,” said aerospace engineer, Todd Cox.  “Cars will be in the dustbin of history soon enough.”

For those of you who have not had the pleasure of reading The Weekly World News, here are some of their other headline stories: "Alien Picks Obama, McCain Fuming", "Bat Child Found in Cave", and "How to Sell Your Soul to the Devil".

This morning, The Weekly World News has a follow-up to its Jetpacks Special....

"Fox and Friends Fires Hosts, Hires Chimps"