A British police helicopter pilot experienced intense fear for his life during a near-miss incident over RAF Lakenheath, a sensitive U.S. Air Force base in Suffolk, England. The pilot was searching for unidentified drones believed to have been launched from a Russian fleet tanker docked in Hull. According to a report by the UK Airprox Board, the pilot steered his helicopter downwards in an attempt to evade what he perceived as threatening drones. However, it was later determined that the other aircraft involved was a U.S. F-15 fighter jet.
The incident occurred on November 22, 2024, as the National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter was conducting monitoring activities above RAF Lakenheath. The F-15 jet, capable of speeds up to 1,650 mph, came within 1,900 feet of the police chopper. The UK Airprox Board concluded that the helicopter pilot had misidentified the flashing red lights of the F-15 as drones.
An assessment report by the UK Airprox Board identified the movements and distances on November 22 2024 between the EC135 police helicopter and the F-15 fighter jet.
Investigators highlighted that the NPAS helicopter crew had not been informed by RAF Lakenheath of the F-15's presence. While the fighter pilot was aware of the helicopter's location, the report suggested it would have been beneficial for the police pilot's situational awareness if air traffic control had relayed information about the F-15.
Details that have since emerged indicate the helicopter pilot's profound concern. A source quoted by The Times stated, "He had a real fear the drones would bring the chopper down. The pilot was worried he was going to die. He was told to disengage."
The police helicopter had been deployed after spotting "red flashing lights" that were believed to be from drones monitoring RAF Lakenheath. The pilot reported being overtaken by a suspected drone at a constant height before descending at approximately 167 mph. The report noted that the crew did not observe standard aircraft lights visually, nor were any picked up on onboard camera systems, which may have reinforced their perception of drones.
Radar readings, however, indicated the activity was more likely from U.S. F-15s in the vicinity, maintaining a safe distance above the police helicopter.
This incident occurred against a backdrop of broader concerns about Russian drone activity over British airspace. A recent report revealed that Russian drones had loitered over multiple RAF and U.S. military bases, including Lakenheath and Mildenhall in Suffolk, RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, and RAF Feltwell in Norfolk, over a four-day period in 2024. These platforms were reportedly launched from a Russian spy ship, the HAV Dolphin, sighted off the coast at the time.
The International Institute for Security Studies (IISS) has linked this activity to a wider Kremlin campaign using "shadow fleet" vessels in international waters to launch drones over Britain and mainland Europe. The IISS found that between August 2024 and February of the current year, Russia targeted 12 NATO member states and Ireland, leading to airport closures and disruptions to military activities. The institute assessed that these incursions aimed to probe response times, map vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure, and impose economic and psychological costs.
In response to the drone incursions, 60 RAF Electronic Warfare specialists were deployed to the affected bases to intercept any perceived threats and preserve operational security. The drone sorties are speculated to be a potential response to Ukraine firing U.S. and UK ballistic missiles into mainland Russia.
RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk is home to the US Air Force's 48th Fighter Wing and its F-15 and F-35A supersonic jets.
The incident also raises questions about the security of bases that have reportedly been preparing for the potential return of nuclear weapons. Documents have suggested that RAF Lakenheath was making preparations to house and guard bombs with explosive power significantly greater than those used in World War II.