Incident · April 2013 · Rafael Hernández Airport, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
Aguadilla “Puerto Rico object”
Also known as Puerto Rico object, Aguadilla 2013, Puerto Rico UAP
Explained. AARO assesses with high confidence that two objects, likely a pair of balloons or sky lanterns, drifted over the airport at about seven knots; the apparent split was the changing view angle, the high speed was parallax, and the 'water entry' was the object matching the water's temperature. (source)
In April 2013 the infrared camera of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection aircraft filmed an object near Rafael Hernández Airport in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, that seemed to travel at high speed, split in two and plunge into the sea and back out. Long cited as a transmedium case, it was presented by AARO's director Jon Kosloski at the Senate hearing of 19 November 2024 as resolved.
AARO concluded with high confidence that the video shows two separate objects close together, most likely a pair of balloons or sky lanterns drifting at about seven knots and descending over the airport, with no anomalous performance. The split was an effect of the changing angle of view, the speed was parallax, and the apparent entry into the water was the point where the objects reached the temperature of the sea and the camera could no longer tell them apart.
Facts and claims
- documented In April 2013 a U.S. Customs and Border Protection aircraft recorded infrared video of an object over Rafael Hernández Airport that “appears to show an object traveling at high speed, splitting into two objects, and entering and exiting the water”, according to AARO's charts. Source: defensescoop.com (archived)
- documented AARO assessed with high confidence that “Two distinct objects were airborne in proximity to each other, rather than a single object splitting into two”, that the high speed was “motion parallax”, and that the objects showed no anomalous speeds or flight characteristics. Source: defensescoop.com (archived)
- claimed Kosloski: where it seems to enter the water, “the temperature of the water is equal to the temperature of the object and the camera can no longer distinguish between the two”; the object, “likely a pair of balloons or sky lanterns, was floating at about seven knots over the airport and descending to about 200 meters.” — Jon T. Kosloski Source: defensescoop.com (archived)
Connected files
Documents
- AARO case slides for the Senate Armed Services subcommittee (19 November 2024) (documented in) — AARO: two objects at wind speed over land, never entering the water
Programs
- All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (investigated by)
Hearings & briefings
- Senate Armed Services Subcommittee hearing with AARO Director (discussed at) — Kosloski presented AARO's resolution at the hearing
People
- Jon T. Kosloski (statements by)