October 1, 2023πΊπΈSighting
Military BaseRadar Evidence
Eglin AFB: Pilot radar failure near UAP
US Air Force reported a 2023 incident at Eglin AFB to AARO where a pilot's radar and FLIR failed approaching a large UAP over the Gulf of Mexico. The Department of Defense confirmed the submission on September 20, 2023.
Background
Incident Details On January 26, 2023, a USAF pilot from Eglin Air Force Base in Florida detected four objects via radar at 16,000β18,000 feet over the Gulf of Mexico, appearing in diamond formation. Approaching one visually resembling an orb or Apollo-like craft, his radar and FLIR systems malfunctioned, forcing manual imaging.
Reporting and Confirmation The US Air Force submitted the report to AARO earlier in 2023; Department of Defense confirmed this publicly on September 20, 2023[source text]. Rep. Matt Gaetz highlighted it in July 2023 congressional hearing, claiming to have viewed images and radar data from the flight crew.
Witnesses and Investigations Gaetz, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, and Rep. Tim Burchett visited Eglin AFB for briefings but faced restrictions; Gaetz alone accessed pilot details. AARO later resolved it as likely a lighting balloon with moderate confidence, replicating aspects via tests, though initial reports noted anomalous infrared signature.
Significance This case underscores UAP interference with military systems, sparking congressional scrutiny despite prosaic explanation.
Connections
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References
πClosing UAP Information Gaps to Advance National Security: Some Suggestions for Congress and the New Administration -...πF-22 Raptor Experiences An Apparent Nose-Gear Failure After Emergency Landing At Eglin Air Force Base - The AviationistπAll The Ways The F-35 Tried To Kill Its Pilot Prior To Eglin AFB Crash