FBI opens investigation into LAX aerial anomaly reports
Federal agents initiated a formal probe following multiple aviation reports. The Bureau assigned case number 164B-LA-3313857 to examine the unusual aerial phenomena observed near the busy airport. Investigators sought to determine the nature and origin of the reported objects.
Background
The Federal Bureau of Investigation formally entered the case on September 1, 2020, establishing file number 164B-LA-3313857 through its Los Angeles Resident Agency. The Bureau's involvement signaled the seriousness of the potential security breach, as federal jurisdiction typically applies to unauthorized incursions into navigable airspace. Agents began collecting witness statements from flight crews and reviewing radar data to identify the source of the reported objects. The investigation aimed to determine whether the sightings represented illegal drone operations, experimental aircraft without proper clearance, or other explainable phenomena that might threaten commercial aviation safety.