Leaked air traffic control audio reveals that a U.S. Air Force pilot reportedly had a close encounter with a UFO.
The experienced pilot was flying a Beechcraft 350C on a classified mission through controlled airspace in California on September 17 last year when he claimed to have passed a “football-sized” unidentified object.
During his call with air traffic control, now leaked and obtained by NewsNation, the pilot reported that his jet, flying at 20,000 feet, nearly collided with the mysterious object on a clear afternoon at 2:30 p.m.
The pilot, identified as Troy 21, can be heard in the leaked audio telling air traffic control, “This is going to sound weird, but I just had something pass underneath my wing.”
He added, “Maybe a football-sized object right under my wing.”
An animated video recreates the strange encounter, depicting a cylindrical object zooming past the aircraft.
According to NewsNation, the jet was conducting an undisclosed military-related operation with the Department of Homeland Security at the time of the incident.
The air traffic controller asked if the pilot thought it was a drone, to which he responded, “Uh, I have no idea. I’ve got my sensor operator looking for it on the camera right now.”
“It was like a dark gray cylindrical object, probably the size of a football, and it passed maybe 10 feet under our right wing,” the pilot added.
About two minutes later, the airman tracked the object and estimated it had traveled approximately 60 miles from his position.
In the leaked audio, another air traffic controller is heard discussing the reported “UFO” before stating, “That’s all taken care of now.”
Former FBI agent and UFO investigator Ben Hansen, who exclusively shared the audio on Banfield, explained that the aircraft was equipped with a highly sensitive and complex radar system typically used to track drug traffickers.
🚨 This is absolutely incredible.. A football sized UAP passes right underneath a passenger planes wing. It was caught by pilots, video, and sensors. @NewsNation #ufotwitter #ufoX #uaptwitter #UAP pic.twitter.com/bdVfAOlQmd
— UAP Reporting Center (@UAPReportingCnt) February 20, 2025
Hansen emphasized the significance of the encounter, noting that the object was moving through controlled airspace where no other air traffic had been reported.
“So when they called this thing in […] it’s broad daylight, and they got a good look at it,” Hansen explained. “This cylindrical, dark object passed so close under their wing. Obviously, that poses serious concerns, especially in controlled airspace where no other aircraft were reported.”
He also pointed out the object’s speed and altitude, suggesting it was unlikely to be a drone, given its presence in a restricted zone.
Hansen acknowledged the possibility of a drone but noted it would be unusual.
“It could be, though very rare. Hobby drones can reach that altitude, and of course, military drones can as well,” he explained. “This occurred near what we call a military operations area, but it wasn’t actually within that airspace.”
He added, “Anyone testing a commercial drone or similar device would have been required to report it.”
Hansen also highlighted an intriguing detail: “You hear them tracking this object about 60 miles away using their airborne radar, and the pilot calls back.”
However, he admitted it’s “debatable” whether the radar could detect something so small from that distance. If accurate, though, he said the object would have been moving at Mach 2, twice the speed of sound, which would “absolutely eliminate” the drone theory.
Spooky.
