Type: Government Documentation
Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection
The official U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) mission report for the April 25/26, 2013 incident is not publicly available as a standalone document; however, key details are synthesized from Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies (SCU) analyses and the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) 2025 case resolution.
Key Incident Facts:
Date/Time: The event occurred around 9:20 PM on April 25, 2013 (local time), with some sources citing April 26 due to time zone conversions.
Platform: A De Havilland Canada DHC-8 Turboprop aircraft operated by CBP was on a routine surveillance mission.
Observation: The crew visually identified a pinkish-red light moving toward Rafael Hernández Airport in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The airport control tower also confirmed visual contact but did not know the object's identity.
Sensor Data: As the object's visible light extinguished near shore, the aircraft’s L3Harris WESCAM MX-15 thermal infrared sensor tracked an unknown object. The footage showed the object moving at low altitudes, entering the Atlantic Ocean, and appearing to split into two objects.
Conflicting Official Conclusions:
SCU Analysis (2015/2023): The SCU, using verified video and FAA radar data, concluded the object exhibited anomalous transmedium behavior (air-to-water transition without significant deceleration) and speeds up to 120 mph, rejecting explanations like balloons or lanterns.
AARO Resolution (March 2025): The All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office published a case resolution stating the objects were likely two sky lanterns. AARO attributed the apparent high speed and "splitting" to motion parallax (the aircraft's movement relative to stationary objects) and thermal crossover, assigning high confidence that the phenomena were mundane.