Police helicopter pressured to dive after unidentified objects at RAF base

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Newly launched police logs and video footage contradict official explanations of a near-collision between a U.Okay. police helicopter and unidentified aerial objects over a U.S. air base final 12 months, an encounter authorities had beforehand dismissed as a routine fighter jet sighting.

According to documents the Daily Mail obtained by means of Britain’s Freedom of Info Act, the Nov. 22, 2024, flight pressured a Nationwide Police Air Service (NPAS) EC135 helicopter to take emergency evasive motion after reporting that two fast-moving craft "focused" and pursued the plane over RAF Lakenheath, a significant U.S. army set up in Suffolk.

The pilots described a steep dive to keep away from affect because the objects matched their pace, roughly 165 knots (190 mph), for a number of minutes earlier than disappearing from view.

Nick Pope, who previously investigated UFOs for the U.Okay. Ministry of Defence, informed Fox Information Digital the episode reveals how unidentified aerial phenomena , or UAP, have advanced from a fringe curiosity right into a reputable protection and aviation problem.

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The U.S. authorities is compelled to research stories of UFOs to establish any points relating to threats to nationwide safety. (iStock)

"This disturbing incident completely illustrates why the UAP problem has gone from fringe to mainstream," Pope stated. "No matter individuals’s beliefs, this can be a critical safety-of-flight matter that calls for pressing consideration and motion."

Pope harassed that merely labeling such encounters "drones" can obscure what is perhaps far more complicated.

" ‘Drone’ has become a convenient shorthand for something unexplained that folks see within the skies," he stated. "So we actually don’t know what we’re coping with right here."

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A UFO is seen within the sky. (Courtesy of Netflix)

He added that the dearth of knowledge sharing between companies and the tendency to downplay sightings might make the hazard worse.

"I hope it doesn’t take a tragedy earlier than one thing extra is finished," Pope stated. "There’s power underreporting of those kinds of incidents, so the true extent of the issue is probably going much more critical."

Logs cited by the Every day Mail say the NPAS crew referred to as the encounter an "unprovoked pursuit" shortly after 10 p.m. whereas patrolling close to the bottom.

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"They needed to carry out an emergency dive and described that they have been pursued within the dive by two drones who matched their pace … after which pursued them for a number of minutes out of the world," one police entry states.

One other notes the pilots "felt that drones had focused them and chased them off at roughly 140 knots [161 mph]."

Extra police stories between Nov. 20 and 22 recorded roughly 20 drone sightings throughout RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell. Logs described "10–15 drones … doubtlessly into base airspace" and stated plane have been quickly grounded after crossing flight paths.

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A witness utilizing night-vision goggles reported "5 to 6 drones" close to the A1065 freeway, whereas one other described "giant stationary issues — tic-tacs — they aren't birds."

A U.Okay. army supply who seen the helicopter’s full 30-minute infrared video informed the Every day Mail the footage reveals "drones mirroring the helicopter’s actions" and performing a "corkscrew" maneuver inconceivable for an F-15.

"Within the 30-minute video with pilot audio, no one mentions F-15s," the supply stated. "They solely discuss in regards to the drones … mainly forcing them out of the world."

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Enigma has acquired greater than 9,000 witness sightings of mysterious objects inside 10 miles of United States’ shorelines since August 2025, in line with the corporate’s web site. (iStock)

Regardless of the a number of sightings, Britain’s Airprox Board, which investigates near-misses, concluded in its ultimate report that the crew had mistaken the lights of a U.S. Air Drive F-15 working close by. Radar information confirmed the helicopter and jet got here inside 1,700 ft, and the board reported no different returns.

Retired senior police detective Mike Morgan informed the Every day Mail he was annoyed by official silence.

"There's a complete collection of query marks about what went on in November 2024," he stated. "I've run into repeated efforts by the authorities to keep away from answering even essentially the most fundamental questions … What's so secret about this investigation?"

Protection-sector meteorologist Stuart Onyeche stated he believes each the F-15 and the police helicopter have been reacting to unmanned methods within the space.

"I’m inclined to belief the preliminary element and evaluation of the skilled helicopter pilots," Onyeche informed the Every day Mail. "It’s unarguable that an F-15 was additionally within the neighborhood … however the unanswered query is what that fighter was being tasked to do or search for."

The Every day Mail notes the Lakenheath case unfolded amid weeks of comparable stories of drone incursions close to U.S. army bases in New Jersey, the broader Northeast, and abroad.

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The outlet additionally cites a joint FBI/DoD/NASA report warning that detection and jamming methods have "failed" to cease superior drones, together with a significant swarm over Langley Air Drive Base in Virginia in December 2023 that was saved quiet till revealed by The War Zone in March 2024.

Pope stated that recurring incidents just like the Lakenheath encounter, mixed with restricted transparency from officers, level to a rising hole in how governments deal with unidentified aerial exercise and that with out higher reporting and coordination, the chance to air security will solely proceed to extend.

Stepheny Value covers crime, together with lacking individuals, homicides and migrant crime. Ship story tricks to stepheny.worth@fox.com.

Stepheny Value is a Author at Fox News with a concentrate on West Coast and Midwest information, lacking individuals, nationwide and worldwide crime tales, murder circumstances, and border safety.