A Hot Spot Fishing Charters crew pulled a large unmanned aircraft from the Gulf off Pensacola Beach during a Saturday offshore trip; authorities recovered the drone later that day, according to WEAR‑TV. The incident occurred near restricted ranges managed by Eglin Air Force Base. WEAR‑TV suggested the aircraft might be an MQM‑172 target drone, but that identification is unconfirmed, and no official statement had been issued.
Pensacola Charter Crew Pulls Large Military-Style Drone From Gulf; Authorities Recover It Same Day
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A routine Saturday offshore trip out of Pensacola Beach took an unexpected turn when a Hot Spot Fishing Charters crew hauled a large unmanned aircraft from the Gulf of Mexico. Local station WEAR‑TV reported that authorities later arrived and recovered the drone the same day.
What Happened
Hot Spot Fishing Charters operates six- to eight-hour offshore excursions that typically travel 15 to 30 miles from Pensacola Beach. On the Saturday trip in question, crew members pulled a sizable drone from the water. Photos and video circulated by WEAR‑TV showed a distinctive delta‑wing silhouette that drew immediate attention.
WEAR‑TV described the find as “a large drone pulled from Gulf waters.”
Possible Identities—and What Is Confirmed
WEAR‑TV suggested the aircraft could be an MQM‑172, an unmanned aerial target commonly used by the U.S. military for weapons testing and aircrew training, but that identification has not been independently verified. Observers also noted that the drone’s delta‑wing planform resembles the Iranian Shahed‑136 strike drone in general outline; that visual similarity alone does not establish origin or purpose.
Location and Context
The recovery site lies adjacent to restricted airspace and offshore test ranges overseen by Eglin Air Force Base, one of the nation’s largest military test facilities. Eglin manages a range of test zones and enforces rules limiting small unmanned aircraft on its reservation. Target drones do occasionally end up in the water following live‑fire training or test events, which makes the location notable but not conclusive.
What Is Still Unknown
At the time of reporting, no U.S. Air Force or Eglin Air Force Base official comment had been published. The responding agency, the exact method of recovery, and any chain of custody details were not available. No government organization had publicly claimed the aircraft, and the model identification remained unconfirmed.
Bottom line: A Pensacola fishing charter recovered a large military‑style unmanned aircraft from Gulf waters; authorities retrieved the drone later that day. Key questions about the drone’s model, origin and how it came to be in civilian waters remain unanswered and are under investigation.
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