The Chilean Air Force (FACH) today ruled out a violation of national sovereignty, following investigations into the crossing of an unidentified vessel on August 27 in the Magallanes region.
“Everything was created and developed within the national territory, so it cannot be said that a violation of airspace occurred,” FACH said in a statement.
The document indicated that the plane may have been flying at a low altitude and landed in an unspecified area.
The presence of the object prompted an F-5E fighter jet to identify it, and even a DHC-6 aircraft and a UH-412 helicopter to survey the area where contact with the device had been lost.
In the statement, FACH reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the defence, surveillance and control of the national territory.
The August 27 incident sparked a series of speculations, including a possible incursion from Argentina.
Launches
Regarding the event that occurred on August 27, 2024 in the Magallanes Region and Chilean Antarctica, the Chilean Air Force, once the investigation was completed, reported the following:
1. The 4th Air Brigade's corporate detection system detected unidentified traffic in national airspace, which, after applying established protocols to determine its source and nature, resulted in an F-5E aircraft taking off to identify you.
Secondly. The F-5E aircraft response was carried out within the times and parameters set for this purpose. However, although the detection was made by ground and air sensors simultaneously, it was not recognized, as it disappeared from the radar display.
Third. Then, after exhausting identification efforts, a DHC-6 aircraft and a UH-412 helicopter were ordered to take off, to reconnoiter the area where contact had disappeared.
Fourth, the event occurred at night and the current weather conditions did not limit air operations, nor did they encourage the occurrence of special weather phenomena that could generate false radar communications.
Fifth: There is a possibility that what was observed was an aircraft flying at a low altitude and at high speed, and its path passed partially outside radar coverage, unaware of the presence of institutional detection systems, and finally landed in an unspecified sector, which explains the disappearance of ground and air radar contact.
Sixth. It has been established that there was a confirmed detection of unknown traffic. Everything was created and developed within the national territory, and for this reason it cannot be said that there was a violation of Chilean airspace.
Finally, the Chilean Air Force affirms that it will continue to perform its primary role 365 days a year in the defense, surveillance and control of the national airspace.
