NRC FOIA Release Reveals 22 Drone Incursions at U.S. Nuclear Power Plants
Newly released NRC records obtained via FOIA reveal at least 22 drone incursion incidents at U.S. nuclear power plants between September 2022 and February 2023. A particularly notable case involved a triangular object with a spotlight hovering for over two hours above the Susquehanna plant in Pennsylvania.
Background
In April 2026, Liberation Times published an analysis of Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, documenting a wave of unauthorized drone incursions at multiple U.S. nuclear power facilities.
Background
The released documents cover a period from September 2022 through February 2023, during which security personnel at several nuclear plants reported repeated drone overflights. The incidents occurred at facilities including Susquehanna Steam Electric Station in Pennsylvania, Columbia Generating Station in Washington state, Comanche Peak in Texas, Monticello in Minnesota, and Peach Bottom in Pennsylvania.
Key Details
The most striking incident occurred on October 3, 2022, at Susquehanna, where security observed multiple drones including one described as a triangular craft equipped with a spotlight. On September 26, 2022, eight drones were recorded operating over the facility for nearly three hours. The article also draws historical parallels to unexplained aerial phenomena over the Hanford nuclear site dating back to 1949 and similar events at Barksdale Air Force Base. Former State Department analyst Marik von Rennenkampff described the incursions as truly alarming, noting that the identity and intent of the operators remain unknown.
Significance
These FOIA records demonstrate an ongoing pattern of unauthorized aerial intrusions at critical nuclear infrastructure, connecting the 2022-2023 drone wave to the broader timeline of unexplained aerial phenomena near nuclear facilities.