The U.S. Air Force is investigating a January 2023 collision between an F-16 and a mysterious aerial object during a training mission, part of a surge in unexplained sightings near military zones.
BY PC Bureau
July 14, 2025:
In a baffling incident that has reignited national debates over Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs), a U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper was reportedly struck by an unidentified flying object during a routine training exercise over Gila Bend, Arizona, in January 2023. According to reports by Fox News and documents obtained by The War Zone, the mid-air collision occurred when the instructor pilot, seated in the rear cockpit of the $70 million fighter jet, spotted an unknown object moments before it slammed into the aircraft’s transparent canopy.
Astonishingly, the F-16 showed no visible signs of damage. Investigators quickly ruled out a bird strike due to the object’s behavior and the absence of any biological residue. Though a subsequent inquiry concluded the object was likely a drone, officials have yet to identify its origin, operator, or intent—raising serious questions about airspace security and sparking speculation that ranges from surveillance activities to more exotic theories.
This wasn’t an isolated incident. FAA records reviewed by The War Zone revealed that the F-16 collision was one of four UAP encounters reported in the Gila Bend region within a 24-hour window. The clustering of these events in restricted military airspace has added to growing concerns about vulnerabilities in U.S. air defense and intelligence systems.
UAP Sightings on the Rise
The incident comes amid a dramatic surge in UAP reports. The All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO)—a Pentagon entity tasked with studying unexplained aerial events—recently released an unclassified report documenting 757 UAP incidents between May 2023 and June 2024. Of these, 708 occurred in the air, with only 49 resolved. Significantly, 18 of the unresolved cases occurred near sensitive military locations, including nuclear facilities and missile bases.
Although none of the resolved cases pointed to advanced foreign or non-human technology, the sheer volume of unexplained sightings continues to puzzle defense analysts and the public alike.
READ: Indian Army Unleashes Deady Attacks on ULFA-I Camps in Myanmar, Kills Top Commander
The Gila Bend event has drawn widespread attention from military officials, UAP researchers, and the public. Veteran UFO investigator and filmmaker James Fox told Fox News Digital, “This is nothing new.” Citing accounts from the 1930s and World War II, Fox described similar sightings of luminous, maneuverable objects with no heat signatures—phenomena that have never been satisfactorily explained. “We’re either dealing with a persistent unknown intelligence or technology that’s been hidden from us for decades,” he added.
On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), public reactions have been polarized. One user speculated, “Sounds like someone’s testing a new toy in restricted airspace. Probably not aliens—just bad oversight.” Another post countered, “Four UAPs in one day? That’s not a drone problem. That’s a ‘we’re not alone’ problem.”
Department of Defense admits that an F16 and UFO collided in midair in 2023 pic.twitter.com/Pg9mmL3ghR
— Frank Furter (@FrankFurter420a) July 10, 2025
The Department of Defense established the UAP Task Force (UAPTF) in 2020, later succeeded by the AARO, to assess potential threats posed by these mysterious incursions. Officials attribute the recent increase in sightings to improved sensor and radar technologies capable of detecting smaller and more elusive objects.
Still, the lack of definitive conclusions has frustrated some experts. Dr. Sarah Mitchell, an aerospace engineer interviewed by The War Zone, warned, “If drones or UAPs are breaching restricted airspace, we need real-time detection and response capabilities. This is not just about curiosity—it’s about national security.”
READ: Tibet’s Tragic Preschools (Part-2): Mandarin, Mao, and Memory Loss
Lawmakers like Senator Marco Rubio have echoed similar sentiments, demanding greater transparency from the Department of Defense. In 2021, Rubio helped push for the release of a Pentagon UAP report that documented 144 unexplained sightings—most of which remain unresolved.
Wider Implications: What Are We Really Seeing?
The Gila Bend collision and broader spike in sightings have reopened fundamental questions: Are these events evidence of foreign reconnaissance platforms, unknown natural phenomena, or something truly extraordinary?
The proximity of some UAP encounters to strategic military and nuclear sites has prompted speculation about potential espionage, although no hostile actions have been confirmed. Meanwhile, a 2023 Gallup poll found that 41% of Americans believe at least some UAPs are extraterrestrial spacecraft, a notable increase from 33% in 2019.
Popular interest has also been fueled by declassified videos, congressional hearings, and whistleblower accounts. Documentaries such as James Fox’s Moment of Contact have further deepened public intrigue into decades-old incidents that remain unexplained.
As the Department of Defense and AARO continue investigations, additional reports are expected in 2025, which may offer clarity on the 708 unresolved sightings from the past year. Meanwhile, the Pentagon has pledged to upgrade airspace surveillance systems and improve coordination with civilian agencies like the FAA.
But for now, the Gila Bend F-16 incident remains an enduring mystery—one that has stirred both skepticism and wonder. As James Fox noted, “Whether it’s drones, aliens, or something else entirely, we’re dealing with capabilities that either outpace us—or defy our understanding. Either way, we owe it to ourselves to find out.”
