In September 2024, during a classified mission over California, a U.S. Air Force pilot, identified by the call sign “Troy 21,” reported a close encounter with an unidentified flying object (UFO).
Leaked air traffic control audio reveals that while piloting a Beechcraft 350 C at 20,000 feet, Troy 21 observed a dark gray, cylindrical object, approximately the size of a football, passing just 10 feet beneath his aircraft. Despite advanced onboard sensors, the object could not be identified.
This incident adds to a series of similar unexplained aerial phenomena reported by military personnel, intensifying discussions about airspace security and the need for comprehensive investigations into such encounters.
In the leaked audio, Troy 21 can be heard expressing his astonishment to air traffic control: “This is going to sound weird, but I just had something pass underneath my wing… Maybe a football-sized object right under my wing.” When asked if it could have been a drone, he responded, “Uh, I have no idea. I’ve got my sensor operator looking for it on the camera right now.”
The incident has raised questions about the nature of the object and the potential risks such encounters pose to aviation safety. Experts have noted that for the object to cover an estimated 60 miles in just two minutes, it would have to travel at speeds exceeding Mach 2 (over 1,500 mph), leading some to question whether it could have been a drone.
This event is part of a growing number of unexplained aerial phenomena reported by military personnel, prompting calls for more comprehensive investigations into such encounters.
