Police Helicopter Forced Into Emergency Dive by UFO-like Objects Near RAF Lakenheath, Documents Show

Newly released documents under the UK Freedom of Information Act and infrared footage challenge the official explanation for a near-miss over RAF Lakenheath on Nov. 22, 2024. Crew members of a National Police Air Service (NPAS) EC135 report that two fast-moving objects appeared to target and pursue their helicopter, forcing an emergency evasive dive before the objects vanished.

The pilots said the objects matched the helicopter's speed—around 165 knots (about 190 mph)—and followed their movements for several minutes. Additional police logs from Nov. 20–22 recorded roughly 20 drone or unmanned-system sightings around RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell, and some aircraft were temporarily grounded after flight-path crossings were reported.

A military source who reviewed the full 30-minute infrared video described the objects as "mirroring the helicopter’s movements" and performing a "corkscrew" manoeuvre the source believes an F-15 could not execute. Witnesses using night-vision equipment reported multiple small craft near roads adjacent to the bases, and at least one observer described objects appearing "large and stationary — tic-tacs — they are not birds."

Nick Pope, who previously led UFO investigations for the UK Ministry of Defence, said: "This disturbing incident perfectly illustrates why the UAP issue has gone from fringe to mainstream. Whatever people’s beliefs, this is a serious safety‑of‑flight matter that demands urgent attention and action."

Despite these reports and the infrared footage, Britain’s Airprox Board concluded that the pilots had misidentified the lights of a nearby US Air Force F-15. The board's radar data recorded the helicopter and the F-15 coming within 1,700 feet and reported no other radar returns.

Retired senior detective Mike Morgan expressed frustration at official secrecy surrounding the investigation, saying public answers to basic questions have been limited. Defence-sector meteorologist Stuart Onyeche suggested both the F-15 and the police helicopter may have been responding to unmanned systems and urged that pilot testimony be taken seriously while questions remain about what the fighter was tasked to do.

The incident arrives amid a wider pattern of reported drone incursions near military installations. A joint assessment by federal agencies has warned that some detection and jamming systems have struggled to stop advanced unmanned systems, citing a large swarm over Langley Air Force Base in December 2023 as an example.

Why this matters

The episode highlights persistent gaps in inter-agency data sharing, inconsistent reporting of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and potential risks to flight safety. Experts say improved transparency, coordinated detection and response systems, and better incident reporting are needed to reduce the risk of a future collision or worse.