The 2013 Aguadilla UAP Incident: Analysis of Homeland Security Thermal Imagery and AARO Evaluation

On April 25, 2013, a DHC-8 turboprop aircraft operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recorded a high-definition infrared video of an unidentified object near Rafael Hernández Airport in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The footage, which spans approximately three minutes, has become a primary case study for modern UAP researchers due to the object's anomalous flight characteristics and transmedium capabilities. The incident was recently highlighted in the Fiscal Year 2025 Consolidated Annual Report on UAP by the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO).

Airborne Thermal Detection

The object was first detected by the CBP aircraft's thermal imaging system as it moved across the runway area. Analysis of the telemetry data indicates the object was traveling at speeds between 40 and 120 mph while maintaining a low altitude. Unlike conventional drones or birds, the object exhibited no visible wings, rotors, or exhaust plumes. The infrared signature remained consistent, suggesting a stable internal temperature despite its rapid movement through the atmosphere. The flight path took the object directly across the airport's perimeter, leading to its classification as a "range fouler."

Transmedium Capabilities and Splitting Behavior

One of the most significant aspects of the Aguadilla footage is the object's transition from air to water. The video shows the object entering the Atlantic Ocean without a significant decrease in velocity or a visible splash, a characteristic now defined by AARO as "transmedium" travel. Furthermore, at one point in the recording, the object appears to split into two distinct units or is joined by a second identical object, both of which continue to move in tandem before submerging. This behavior has challenged aerodynamic modeling and suggests a propulsion system not reliant on traditional lift or displacement.

AARO FY2025 Review and Technical Analysis

In the 2024 and 2025 consolidated reports, AARO identified the Aguadilla case as a point of continued public interest and technical evaluation. While some skeptics have proposed that the object was a cluster of lanterns or a small drone, the Scientific Coalition for UAP (SCU) and subsequent government reviews have noted that the lack of wind-drift and the seamless water entry challenge conventional explanations. The case remains a key example of the high-quality sensor data that modern military and intelligence agencies are now using to categorize unidentified anomalous phenomena.