DoD/AARO: Aguadilla 2013 Case Resolution Report Released
The Pentagon's UAP research division published an assessment of the 2013 Puerto Rico incident. Analysts concluded the objects were likely sky lanterns drifting with wind currents. They attributed the seemingly strange movements to infrared sensor limitations rather than exotic technology.
Background
The Pentagon's UAP research division published a case resolution report on March 20, 2025, addressing the controversial 2013 Aguadilla incident. The document offers a conventional explanation for footage that has long puzzled researchers.
According to the assessment, the thermal video captured by a Customs and Border Protection aircraft actually shows two separate objects moving in close proximity. Using specialized modeling software, investigators determined the items drifted at approximately eight miles per hour, matching local atmospheric conditions.
The report challenges previous interpretations suggesting transmedium capabilities. Instead, analysts identified a phenomenon called thermal crossover, where heat signatures blend with background temperatures. This optical effect created the illusion that objects entered the ocean when they actually remained above water.
While the investigation rated the sky lantern hypothesis as moderately confident, the findings directly contradict earlier scientific studies. Independent researchers had previously calculated speeds exceeding one hundred miles per hour and argued for anomalous characteristics impossible for conventional aircraft.