The 2018 Mt. Etna Infrared Sensor Anomaly: Evaluation of AARO Case Resolution Data

Technical Context

In December 2018, a U.S. military uncrewed aerial system (UAS) operating in the vicinity of U.S. Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, was conducting routine surveillance of the Mt. Etna volcanic eruption. During the mission, a shortwave infrared (SWIR) camera captured approximately 12 minutes of footage. For a duration of four and a half minutes, the sensor tracked a spherical object that appeared to exhibit anomalous performance characteristics. The object was observed moving at high velocities while transiting directly through a superheated gas and ash plume produced by the active volcano.

AARO Assessment

The incident was subsequently cataloged and analyzed by the Department of Defense's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). As part of their mandate to investigate and resolve UAP reports, AARO released a formal case resolution regarding the Mt. Etna footage. This case is a primary example of the government's ongoing effort to apply rigorous scientific and sensor-based analysis to historical UAP encounters. The documentation of this event, along with other resolved cases, is maintained within the AARO case resolution archives, which provide transparency regarding the military's methodology for identifying aerial anomalies. By utilizing high-fidelity sensor data, AARO aims to distinguish between conventional phenomena—such as birds, balloons, or sensor artifacts—and truly anomalous objects that defy current understanding of flight dynamics. The Mt. Etna case serves as a critical reference point for researchers studying the intersection of military surveillance and unidentified aerial phenomena in the modern era.