Police Helicopter’s Mysterious Encounter Challenges Official Explanation
In the quiet skies over Suffolk last November, what should have been a routine patrol turned into something far more alarming. According to newly released documents obtained through Britain’s Freedom of Information Act, a National Police Air Service helicopter was forced into emergency evasive action when confronted by two unidentified aerial objects that reportedly “targeted” and pursued the aircraft. This incident, which occurred over RAF Lakenheath, a major U.S. military installation, has now become the center of controversy as police logs and video footage appear to contradict the official explanation that pilots simply misidentified a nearby fighter jet. The helicopter crew described taking a steep dive to avoid collision with objects that matched their speed—approximately 190 mph—for several minutes before vanishing. What makes this case particularly troubling is that it wasn’t isolated; it occurred amid approximately 20 drone sightings reported around RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell during a three-day period, with witnesses describing everything from multiple drones to “large stationary tic-tac” shaped objects.
“This disturbing incident perfectly illustrates why the UAP issue has gone from fringe to mainstream,” explained Nick Pope, who formerly investigated UFOs for the U.K. Ministry of Defence. “Whatever people’s beliefs, this is a serious safety-of-flight matter that demands urgent attention and action.” Pope’s concerns highlight a growing problem within aviation safety: encounters with unidentified objects are often downplayed or reclassified into more conventional explanations, potentially masking genuine risks. He notes that “drone” has become convenient shorthand for any unexplained aerial phenomenon, but this terminology may oversimplify complex situations. “I hope it doesn’t take a tragedy before something more is done,” Pope warned, suggesting that chronic underreporting means “the true extent of the problem is likely far more serious” than currently acknowledged by authorities.
The details recorded in police logs paint a concerning picture of what happened that November night. Shortly after 10 p.m., the NPAS crew reported an “unprovoked pursuit” that forced them to “perform an emergency dive,” during which they were “pursued in the dive by two drones who matched their speed… and then pursued them for several minutes out of the area.” The crew specifically noted they “felt that drones had targeted them and chased them off” at speeds exceeding 160 mph. These reports correlate with broader activity around the bases during that period, including incidents where “10-15 drones” were potentially entering base airspace, temporarily grounding aircraft after crossing flight paths. One witness using night-vision goggles reported “five to six drones” near a highway, while another described seeing strange, stationary “tic-tac” objects that “are not birds.”
Despite these detailed accounts, Britain’s Airprox Board—responsible for investigating near-misses—concluded the helicopter crew had merely misidentified the lights of a U.S. Air Force F-15 operating in the vicinity. According to the board, radar data showed the helicopter and jet came within 1,700 feet, and no other returns were detected. This explanation, however, seems to contradict what a U.K. military source who viewed the helicopter’s full 30-minute infrared video told reporters. According to this source, the footage shows “drones mirroring the helicopter’s movements” and performing a “corkscrew” maneuver that would be impossible for an F-15. “In the 30-minute video with pilot audio, nobody mentions F-15s,” the source emphasized. “They only talk about the drones… basically forcing them out of the area.”
The discrepancy between official explanations and firsthand accounts has raised significant concerns about transparency. Retired senior police detective Mike Morgan expressed frustration with authorities’ apparent reluctance to address questions about the incident. “There is a whole series of question marks about what went on in November 2024,” Morgan noted. “I have run into repeated efforts by the authorities to avoid answering even the most basic questions… What is so secret about this investigation?” Defense-sector meteorologist Stuart Onyeche offered another perspective, suggesting both the F-15 and police helicopter might have been reacting to unmanned systems in the area. “I’m inclined to trust the initial detail and assessment of the experienced helicopter pilots,” Onyeche said, acknowledging that while an F-15 was indeed nearby, the “unanswered question is what that fighter was being tasked to do or look for.”
The Lakenheath incident didn’t happen in isolation. It occurred during weeks of similar reports of drone incursions near U.S. military installations both in the United States—particularly in New Jersey and across the Northeast—and overseas. More troublingly, a joint FBI/DoD/NASA report has warned that detection and jamming systems have “failed” to stop advanced drones, including a major swarm over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia that remained unreported for months until revealed by investigative journalists. This pattern of recurring incidents combined with limited official transparency highlights what Nick Pope describes as “a growing gap in how governments handle unidentified aerial activity.” Without improved reporting mechanisms and better coordination between agencies, these events suggest the risk to air safety will continue to increase. What began as a fringe topic has transformed into a legitimate aviation safety concern that demands serious attention—before, as Pope fears, it takes a tragedy to prompt meaningful action.
