RAF Lakenheath UFO Incident

The Encounter

On the evening of November 22, 2024, the National Police Air Service (NPAS) EC135 helicopter UKP013 G-POLJ, crewed by multiple experienced police pilots, was dispatched to RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk to investigate reports of unmanned aerial vehicle activity. At approximately 21:47:49 UTC, the helicopter crew encountered what they described as fast-moving, unidentified objects that appeared to deliberately target and pursue the aircraft.

The pilots reported that the objects matched their speed—approximately 165 knots (190 mph)—and maintained pursuit for several minutes. Concerned about a possible mid-air collision, the helicopter crew took emergency evasive action, performing a steep dive to evade the pursuing objects, which subsequently disappeared from view. The incident occurred as part of a broader three-day spike in reported drone activity over three US Air Force bases in the United Kingdom: RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell, during mid-to-late November 2024.

Official Evidence

The incident generated compelling infrared video footage captured by the helicopter's thermal imaging and targeting system. This raw operational footage, released under Freedom of Information requests in early 2025, features standard NPAS telemetry data overlaid on the imagery, including sensor mode indicators, targeting reticles, flight altitude, speed, and precise timestamp data. The footage itself appears unenhanced and shows the unfiltered output of professional military-grade imaging equipment operated by law enforcement personnel trained in aerial observation and threat assessment.

The infrared imagery has been analyzed by various UAP researchers and journalists, with some pointing to the apparent metallic characteristics of the objects visible in the thermal signature, while others have noted the objects' apparent ability to maintain formation and match the helicopter's evasive maneuvers.

Competing Explanations

Official statements suggest that the helicopter pilots may have misidentified a routine RAF F-15 fighter jet for hostile unidentified objects, despite the pilots' experience and the disparity between the described behavior and typical fighter jet operations. However, British police records and subsequent analyses suggest the objects displayed characteristics inconsistent with standard military aircraft, including sustained pursuit at comparable speeds and apparent formation behavior.

The Ministry of Defence has denied that any unidentified anomalous phenomena were involved, maintaining the misidentification explanation. In May 2025, West Yorkshire Police released a Freedom of Information statement confirming that staff members, past or present, are not subject to non-disclosure agreements regarding the incidents of November 22, 2024 near RAF Lakenheath, effectively permitting witnesses to speak publicly about their experiences.

Significance in the Disclosure Era

The RAF Lakenheath incident represents one of the most thoroughly documented military-aircraft encounters with unidentified objects in recent years, with official video evidence, precise telemetry data, and multiple credible witnesses. The incident occurred amid growing transparency regarding UAP investigations in both the United States and United Kingdom, including the 2023 Congressional UAP hearings and subsequent Pentagon UAP briefings. The December 2024 release of the incident to public records represents a significant departure from historical government classification practices regarding military UAP encounters.