Incident · 26 January 2023 · Eglin AFB training range, Gulf of Mexico off Florida

Eglin AFB "orb" and diamond formation (Florida, 2023)

Also known as Eglin UAP, Eglin orb, Gaetz Eglin case

Explained. AARO (2023): very likely a lighter-than-air object such as a large commercial lighting balloon (moderate confidence); the radar failure was a pre-existing fault. The three other radar objects were not analysed. (AARO case resolution: Eglin AFB UAP)

Facts and claims

• documented On 26 January 2023 a military pilot on the Eglin AFB training range off Florida reported four objects on radar at 16,000–18,000 ft, apparently in formation. The pilot saw one of them and captured two still images with the aircraft's EO/IR sensor, describing a gray, paneled object about 12 ft across, with an orange-red centre and a rounded bottom under a cone-shaped top. The aircraft's video recorder was inoperable before and during the flight. Source: AARO case resolution: Eglin AFB UAP
• documented AARO's case resolution (14 October 2023) assesses with moderate confidence that the object was "very likely a lighter-than-air object, such as a large commercial lighting balloon", drifting with the wind. Its radar failure was caused by a circuit breaker that had tripped three times before on the same aircraft, which AARO judged coincidental. Its IC partner assessed with high confidence that the object “was not exhibiting anomalous characteristics”; its S&T partner, independently, with high confidence that it “was not anomalous and very likely was some kind of balloon.” AARO could not analyse the other three radar objects. Source: AARO case resolution: Eglin AFB UAP
• claimed Testifying at the July 2023 House Oversight hearing, Rep. Matt Gaetz said his office had received a protected disclosure from Eglin. He said he, Rep. Burchett and Rep. Luna were initially refused the images, the radar data and access to all the flight crew, but after "a bit of a discussion about how authorities flow" saw the image and met one crew member. He described the image as something "I am not able to attach to any human capability either from the United States or from any of our adversaries". — Matt Gaetz Source: Hearing transcript: UAP — Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency (House Oversight, July 26, 2023)
• claimed Gaetz described four craft "in a clear diamond formation" on a radar sequence that "I and I alone have observed in the U.S. Congress", and a pilot approaching "a large floating, what I can only describe as an orb" whose radar went down and whose FLIR malfunctioned, so that the image had to be taken manually. He asked for the radar images and the photo to be provided to the Committee, "subpoenaed if necessary", and said test pilots told him the best thing for one's career after a UAP experience is to "forget it and not tell anyone". — Matt Gaetz Source: Hearing transcript: UAP — Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency (House Oversight, July 26, 2023)
• claimed Rep. Anna Paulina Luna says the visit with Gaetz and Burchett followed pilots' allegations that the Air Force was covering up UAP incidents. She says the Pentagon tried to cancel it, the base commander refused access, and the members were told they lacked read-in to a special access program; only one pilot was eventually made available. She says the visit led to her declassification task force. — Anna Paulina Luna Source: Joe Rogan Experience #2365 - Rep. Anna Paulina Luna at 1:12:45
• documented AARO's resolution does not name the congressional case. Its details (date, four radar objects apparently in formation, radar failure, still images only) match Gaetz's account. Where they differ, AARO attributes the missing video to recording equipment that was already broken and the radar failure to a pre-existing fault, not to the object. Source: AARO case resolution: Eglin AFB UAP

Connected files

Claims

• The objects a pilot met over the Eglin range in January 2023 were craft no human could have built (subject of)

Documents

• AARO case resolution: Eglin AFB UAP (documented in)
• Hearing transcript: UAP — Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency (House Oversight, July 26, 2023) (documented in)

Programs

• All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (investigated by)

People

• Matt Gaetz (investigated by) — Gaetz, whose district includes Eglin, received a protected disclosure and saw the image with Burchett and Luna
• Anna Paulina Luna (investigated by) — Luna saw the image with Gaetz and Burchett, and says the visit led to her declassification task force
• Tim Burchett (investigated by) — Burchett, Gaetz and Luna were at first refused access, then saw the image and met one crew member

Organizations

• Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets (led to) — Luna says the experience led to her declassification task force

Videos

• House holds hearing on UFOs, government transparency | full video (discussed in)
• Joe Rogan Experience #2365 - Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (discussed in)

Mentioned in this file

• House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (Organization)

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