INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — An unknown object seen falling from the sky and hitting the Atlantic Ocean prompted a multi-agency search off the coast of Treasure Shores Beach Park on Thursday. The agencies used aircrafts – including the C-130 “Hercules” – and boats to scan 40 square miles of the water for any sign of debris from the object.
“Patrick Space Force Base confirmed it was not conducting military training exercises at the time, but noted military aircraft may have dropped flares into the water in the area,” said Lt. Kevin Jaworski, a spokesperson for the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
“It is unclear whether this was what the caller observed.” Jaworski added that the caller did not see the object fall from an aircraft.
The incident prompted a multi-agency search including the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Coast Guard, Patrick Space Force Base, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
A beachgoer dialed 911 about 4 p.m. and reported seeing a white object fall from the sky into the water, followed by a plume of black smoke, Jaworski said. The caller said the object crashed into the ocean about 20 miles offshore from Treasure Shores Beach Park.
The caller also reported seeing a boat near where the object hit the water, Jaworski said.
Sheriff’s marine units went out into the ocean and spoke with boaters in the area. None of the boaters reported seeing or hearing anything unusual, Jaworski said.
Patrick Space Force Base deployed the C-130 Hercules to assist in the search. A sheriff’s helicopter also scanned the waters from above.
Sheriff’s officials contacted FAA officials and air traffic control, who said they had no reports of a downed or distressed aircraft, Jaworski said. The search found no debris field or evidence of a downed or distressed aircraft, according to sheriff’s officials.
All agencies left the area once search operations ended.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
