5 KEY POINT SUMMARY — UFO Striking Jet
• UFO hit and damaged a $63M F-16 fighter jet in Arizona
• FAA confirmed “orange-white” drone struck pilot canopy midair
• Over 700 UFO reports filed nationwide, only 49 cases closed
• Swarms of mystery drones have been flying near U.S. military zones
• Experts suspect cartel or foreign actors are using cutting-edge tech
Jet Damaged Mid-Flight By UFO In Arizona Skies
A U.S. Air Force fighter jet was struck midair by a mysterious object over Arizona — and it wasn’t a bird or a balloon. According to FAA records, an “orange-white uncrewed aerial system” slammed into the canopy of a $63 million F-16 Viper in January 2023.
The impact cracked the pilot’s overhead cover and grounded the aircraft. The incident took place over Air Force training ranges, where military jets regularly engage in high-altitude drills.
The term “uncrewed aerial system,” or UAS, typically refers to drones, but officials aren’t sure what hit the jet.
Swarm Of Unknown Craft Near Air Bases
Just one day after the strike, at least three more UFO sightings were reported in the same area. The objects flew in tight formation, often in groups of up to eight.
Since January 2020, the Arizona desert has seen a surge in mysterious drone activity, with sightings clustering near sensitive military installations. These small objects have been seen at high altitudes, zipping through restricted airspace.
The FAA confirmed it shares verified reports with the Pentagon’s All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office — the agency charged with tracking and analyzing UAPs.
Pentagon Receives Hundreds Of UFO Reports
Between May 2023 and June 2024, the U.S. government received 757 new reports of unidentified aerial phenomena. The majority — 708 — occurred in the air.
Shockingly, only 49 cases have been marked “closed,” suggesting hundreds remain unsolved. Many of the flying objects were seen in key defense zones, heightening national security concerns.
The Chinese spy balloon that crossed the U.S. in 2023 was one of several incidents that sparked renewed focus on airborne threats.
Cartel Spy Drones?
Some officials believe these mystery craft could be cartel drones. Ron Vitiello, a former U.S. Customs and Border Protection adviser, told NewsNation that smugglers are using advanced drones to run drugs and surveil law enforcement.
“These cartels have essentially unlimited budgets,” Vitiello warned. “They’re innovating quickly and pushing the envelope.”
He added that some drones can carry up to 10 kilograms of drugs and fly long distances undetected. If the cartel is behind the Arizona swarm, they may be using next-generation tech that rivals military-grade hardware.
Serious Threat Or Mass Confusion?
Former Pentagon investigator Luis Elizondo said Arizona, especially the border zone, has seen a dramatic rise in reports of aerial intrusions. He noted that the sheer number of sightings suggests something larger is going on.
“What I can tell you is that there has been a lot of activity, a lot of people reporting a lot of things,” Elizondo said.
Still, no one knows who controls the skies. Whether it’s advanced cartel drones, foreign surveillance craft, or something stranger, the military and FAA are watching closely.
In the meantime, American fighter pilots are flying in an invisible war zone — one filled with mysterious, high-speed threats from above.
