Radio Station’s Fake Alien Takeover Scares Residents In Alabama Community

A radio station promotion about an alien takeover at a radio station wound up scaring some residents of a north Alabama community.

Star 94.9 in Tuscumbia was planning a format change, so it used an on-air publicity stunt in which aliens took over the station. But some people in the small town thought the station's reports were serious.

The local paper reported that concerned parents and students called police and schools, and the station says it received numerous phone calls, also.

The town's school superintendent Mary Kate Smith said absenteeism was up and she fielded calls from a worried parents. Police also increased patrols at schools to ease concerns.

The station's management has apologizing for the confusion, saying they didn’t foresee these problems when planning the promotion.