FAA FOIA Release Adds Black Cube Sighting Detail to Wright-Patterson Drone Incidents
FAA records obtained via FOIA reveal previously undisclosed details about the December 2024 Wright-Patterson AFB drone incidents, including a black cube-shaped object at 16,000 feet that was omitted from prior public FAA data.
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Background
Overview
FAA records obtained through FOIA case 2025-04622 by The Black Vault reveal new details about the December 2024 drone incursions at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Most significantly, the documents contain a black cube-shaped object sighting at 16,000 feet on December 19, 2024, a detail that was absent from previously released FAA data.
Background
The Wright-Patterson drone incidents in December 2024 involved multiple unauthorized drone incursions over the base, triggering airfield closures and NOTAMs. Previous FOIA releases from the Air Force (case 2025-01757-F) documented the events from the military perspective. These new FAA records provide the civilian aviation authority perspective through the FAA SKYWATCH alert system.
Key Details
The FAA SKYWATCH records document drone swarms of 7-17 targets on December 17, drones conducting evasive maneuvers and switching off lights, and multiple NOTAMs closing the airfield. The black cube sighting near Appleton VOR was reported by a westbound flight crew who observed the object approximately 500 feet below their aircraft. This description was notably omitted or removed from the publicly accessible FAA incident list, raising questions about selective information disclosure.
Significance
FOIA records reveal that FAA possessed additional data on the Wright-Patterson drone incidents, including a black cube sighting, that was not included in public-facing records — suggesting selective disclosure.
Connections
References
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