Freshly released FAA documents obtained by The Black Vault shed new light on a series of unusual drone-related incidents that unfolded around Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in December 2024. While it was already known that the base experienced multiple unauthorized drone intrusions during that month, these newly uncovered records introduce an unexpected and puzzling element: a commercial pilot’s report of a dark, cube-shaped object passing beneath their aircraft at approximately 16,000 feet.
The documents come from the FAA’s SKYWATCH system, a platform designed to compile and distribute reports involving suspicious aerial activity. These records reveal a sequence of unusual events that unfolded over several days. Early on December 14, air-traffic controllers at Wright-Patterson observed drone activity moving across sensitive parts of the installation, including cargo handling areas, runways, and military ramps. Base security noted that the drones appeared to switch off their lights while maneuvering close to restricted zones, prompting the issuance of temporary airfield advisories.
A few days later, on December 17, radar operators picked up additional unexplained aerial targets. Although visual confirmation wasn’t immediately available, the presence of these radar signatures triggered coordination with local law enforcement agencies. Not long after that, the situation escalated when controllers detected multiple airborne objects spread across a wide radius. Security personnel on site described the situation as a “swarm,” reinforcing concerns that the activity was purposeful rather than random.
Later that same day, a separate aircraft approaching the region reported seeing a metallic object—described as a silver drone—at a few thousand feet. Although no evasive measures were necessary, the sighting added yet another layer to an already developing pattern of unexplained activity.
The most unusual encounter occurred on December 19. A westbound aircraft traveling near the Appleton VOR, roughly seventy to eighty miles from Wright-Patterson, reported a dark cube-shaped object passing several hundred feet below. The altitude alone makes this notable; sightings at that height fall well outside the range of hobbyist drones and most registered commercial systems. The shape described by the pilot stands out even more, as cube-like aerial vehicles are not common in FAA reporting. Although the official public summary of this incident omits the “black cube” description, the FOIA-released internal documents confirm it.
What remains unclear is whether this strange object was connected to the earlier drone activity near the base. The timing places it within the same week of unusual air-traffic reports, but its location farther east leaves room for interpretation. It is also possible that the cube-shaped object was not a drone at all, but something misidentified in the moment. Without further imagery or corroborating radar data, the nature of the sighting remains open to speculation.
These events highlight ongoing challenges faced by both military and civilian aviation authorities. Wright-Patterson AFB is home to sensitive research programs, secure facilities, and military operations, making any undocumented aerial presence a potential security concern. The repeated radar detections, the appearance of multiple airborne objects, and the sudden emergence of an unusual high-altitude craft underscore the need for more robust monitoring and clearer attribution methods.
At the same time, the situation raises questions about transparency in reporting. The fact that certain descriptive details did not appear in the FAA’s public drone-incident summaries illustrates the divide between internal and publicly shared data. Whether this occurs for simplicity, classification considerations, or other administrative reasons remains unknown.
Despite the significant information contained in the newly released records, many questions persist. The operators of the drones seen near the base have not been identified. No public statements have clarified whether the swarm activity was part of a test, an adversarial probing effort, or an unauthorized civilian operation. And the mysterious high-altitude cube remains without explanation.
For now, the FAA’s release adds another piece to an already intricate puzzle. As more FOIA requests reach completion and agencies release additional details, observers will be watching to see whether these incidents represent isolated anomalies or part of a broader trend in unconventional aerial activity around sensitive U.S. installations.
