📅 Overview
On April 25, 2013, a US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) aircraft captured FLIR thermal footage of an unidentified aerial phenomenon near Rafael Hernández International Airport in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico (US territory). The approximately 5-minute video shows a pink-glowing spherical object freely moving through the air and water surface. AARO released an official analysis report in September 2023.
🔍 Video Content
Recording medium:
- DHS CBP aircraft's FLIR thermal camera
- Duration: ~5 minutes (much longer than Pentagon videos)
- Location: Near Rafael Hernández Airport (18.5°N)
Key visual elements:
- Pink-glowing spherical object
- Initially spotted by airport control tower → notified to DHS aircraft
- Air → water → air unusual trajectory
- Pattern inconsistent with conventional aircraft or balloons
🛂 Material Flow
- 2013-04-25: Incident occurred, DHS captured footage
- Video flow: DHS → Air Force → civilian UFO research groups
- Public release: September 2023 (AARO analysis + video simultaneously)
🔬 Official AARO Analysis
September 2023 AARO Case Resolution Report:
Possible explanations:
- Balloons — lightweight luminous objects drifting near sea surface
- Flares — military training or maritime signals
- Atmospheric phenomena — tropical night optical effects under specific conditions
AARO did not commit to a single definitive conclusion but classified the case as official_resolved.
::div{class="callout warning"} Distinct from other Pentagon videos: Aguadilla features a 5-minute long video + clearly recorded air→water→air behavior. This is harder to explain with conventional balloons or aircraft. ::
📺 Significance
- Best-known AARO-analyzed case outside the Pentagon Navy three
- Video length and unusual behavior make it a major UFO research focus
- AARO Puerto Rico case handling — model for US airspace + overseas territory integrated processing
- Triple verification: airport tower + government aircraft + FLIR
📚 References
🛂 Comparison with Pentagon Trio
The Aguadilla 2013 Puerto Rico video stands apart from the three famous Navy videos:
| Feature | Aguadilla | Tic-Tac/Gimbal/GoFast |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | ~5 min | 30s–1m each |
| Air→Sea→Air behavior | Recorded | Not present |
| Releasing agency | DHS CBP (civilian) | U.S. Navy |
| AARO formal report | 2023 official | 2020 release only |
The 5-minute duration + clear underwater traversal makes Aguadilla scientifically more analyzable than the shorter Navy videos. The 2023 AARO official Case Resolution Report represents a key milestone in U.S. government UAP transparency.
