A Customs and Border Protection aircraft films an infrared object near Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
April 25, 2013 · Aguadilla, Puerto Rico · Sighting · Primary document linked
On the night of 25 April 2013 (26 April UTC), a Customs and Border Protection aircraft, an agency of the Department of Homeland Security, recorded infrared video that appears to show an object moving fast, splitting in two and entering the sea near Aguadilla. An anonymous submitter gave a copy to The Black Vault in 2014. In March 2025 AARO concluded, with moderate confidence, that the video shows two sky lanterns drifting at about 8 mph, and that the apparent splash is thermal crossover against the ocean.
Why it matters (3/5)
A widely circulated government infrared video; AARO concluded in 2025 that it shows sky lanterns, while an earlier outside analysis read it differently.
Caveats
The Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies analyzed the same footage and reported speeds over 100 mph and transmedium motion, which AARO did not find. The submitter's story that the pilot and a tower operator also saw it, and that a second object emerged from the water, is unverified. AARO's finding is summarized from The Black Vault's article; the PDF itself was not opened.
Video and images
- 2013 Puerto Rico Object Reconstruction (AARO) (Video, DVIDS / AARO)
- AARO case resolution report, "The Puerto Rico Object" (with still frames) (Image, AARO)
Sources
- AARO Puerto Rico UAP Case Resolution (20 March 2025) (All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office), primary
- DoD Report Says Aguadilla UFO Was Just Sky Lanterns; Previous Scientific Studies Claim Otherwise (The Black Vault), context
- Aguadilla, Puerto Rico UFO case file (The Black Vault), context
- 2013 Aguadilla, Puerto Rico UAP Incident Report: A Detailed Analysis (Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies), context
- Aguadilla Infrared Footage of 'UFOs' - Probably Hot Air Wedding Lanterns (Metabunk), criticism