The surviving observation.
A Customs and Border Protection aircraft recorded infrared footage near Aguadilla that appeared to show fast movement, an object splitting, and a passage into the sea. AARO's reconstruction instead found two objects traveling together at wind speed over land, without entering the water. Its March 2025 report assessed with high confidence that there was no anomalous behavior or movement between air and water, and with moderate confidence that the targets were a pair of sky lanterns. The video remains fascinating as a demonstration of how an aircraft's changing position, distance and viewing angle can transform an ordinary track into a dramatic visual story.
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- Official record
- Puerto Rico Objects / DVIDS 944204
- Release date
- 2024-11-19
- Assessment date
- 2025-03-20
Approximate airport-area marker, not a reconstructed target position
The CBP observation is officially placed over Rafael Hernández Airport near Aguadilla. The pin marks its general airport area, not the objects' track.
What the record establishes.
- 01
The original infrared footage was recorded on 26 April 2013 near Aguadilla.
- 02
AARO's reconstruction found two wind-driven objects, without a water entry.
- 03
The sky-lantern identification has moderate confidence; the non-anomalous motion finding has high confidence.
Where the evidence stops.
AARO's reconstruction is an analytical model, not another camera view of the encounter. The probable sky-lantern identification is less certain than its finding about the objects' motion.
Open the original sources.
Descriptions and assessments belong to the named source. An official report can preserve a witness’s claim without independently confirming it.