October 1, 2023πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈSighting
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.

Date
October 1, 2023
Location
Eglin AFB, FloridaπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ
Type
Sighting
Country
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States
Map

Background

Incident Details On January 26, 2023, a USAF pilot from Eglin Air Force Base in Florida detected four objects via radar at 16,000–18,000 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.