Dramatic new footage has revealed the moment a police helicopter narrowly avoided a mid-air collision with a US fighter jet while searching for drones over a major Royal Air Force base.
A Terrifying Encounter in Suffolk Skies
The incident occurred on 22 November last year above RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, the largest US Air Force base in Europe. Video released by the National Police Air Service (NPAS) shows an F-15 Eagle fighter jet, capable of speeds up to 1,650mph, circling perilously close to the police EC135 helicopter. At one point, the two aircraft came within 1,900 feet of each other.
The UK Airprox Board, which investigates such near misses, concluded the helicopter pilot had mistakenly identified the F-15's red flashing lights as belonging to an unmanned drone. Its report stated the NPAS crew made several transmissions to air traffic control describing the movements of what they believed were drones.
Communication Breakdown and Ongoing Drone Mystery
Investigators highlighted a critical failure in communication. The crew had not been informed by RAF Lakenheath controllers about the F-15's presence in the area. While the fighter pilot was aware of the helicopter, the board noted it would have been "particularly beneficial" if the approach controller had passed on traffic information to the police pilots.
This event was part of a wider series of mysterious drone sightings at UK airbases. Police logs show missions were withdrawn on 22 and 27 November after helicopters came close to suspected drones, first reported on 20 November at RAF Mildenhall, RAF Lakenheath, and RAF Feltwell. Around 60 British troops were drafted to assist the US Air Force investigation, which the Ministry of Defence confirmed concluded last month.
Professionalism and Lingering Questions
NPAS Accountable Manager Chief Superintendent Vicki White praised her crew's actions. "Safety remains our foremost priority," she said. "With no traffic information provided and no situational awareness regarding the presence of the F-15 aircraft, the crew correctly returned to base as a precautionary measure." She noted the Board's conclusion that there was no risk of collision.
However, a UK military source suggested the incident involved more than a simple misidentification. They claimed the 30-minute pilot audio only discusses drones mirroring the helicopter's movements and forcing it from the area. The source also stated the footage shows one object performing a corkscrew manoeuvre impossible for an F-15, deepening the mystery of what truly occurred in the skies over Suffolk that day.
