F-16 fighters on alert at March Air Force Base in Riverside, California, were scrambled early Sunday morning following reports of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) over Nevada and California (US).
The incident began around 4:30 a.m. local time on Sunday (February 15), according to flight tracking data and Air Traffic Control (ATC) audio.
The F-16s, with call signs SURF 31 and SURF 32, were scrambled after an object was tracked over the Reno, Nevada area. Later, the object was spotted over northern California, followed by a second object observed in the region.
According to The War Zone, one of the objects puzzled controllers at the Oakland Center, the FAA’s regional air traffic control center, so much that they contacted aircraft flying over northern California for visual confirmation of what was being observed.
After the operation, it was determined that the objects were actually weather balloons, not UFOs, officials from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) told The War Zone Sunday night.
UFOs, now referred to as Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), are often mistaken for drones and balloons. Still, many in the UFO community argue that balloons have become a common explanation to dismiss theories about strange phenomena observed in the sky.
The F-16s were tasked twice this morning.
They first arrived on station ~1330Z then started their RTB ~1600Z. While on final approach at March ARB, the F-16s and KC-135 were once again tasked towards NorCal due to further reports of an unidentified object. They arrived on… pic.twitter.com/7PXH9mjWie
— Aircraft Spots (@AircraftSpots) February 15, 2026
Photo and video: Staff Sgt. Gerald Willis / X @AircraftSpots. This content was created with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team.
