If you were anywhere near Minford, Lucasville, or West Portsmouth this week and thought you saw a UFO or felt your house tremble like it was auditioning for a sci-fi thriller—you’re not alone. But before we break out the tinfoil hats and call Mulder and Scully, let’s talk about what really happened.
It Started with a Tip…
“I’d like to report a UFO sighting north of Minford, Ohio—White Gravel McDaniel Rd. It was moving east to west in a flying V pattern with yellow lights. It was massive. I saw it between 9:30 and 9:45 PM. It resembled the Phoenix Lights and was accompanied by several jets flying overhead and two sonic booms. I could hear the jets but couldn’t see them.”
And this viewer wasn’t the only one buzzing.
Lucasville: “Heard a very loud boom last night. Shook my house!”
West Portsmouth: “I heard the loud boom too.”
Minford: “Loud boom at 10:30 last night that made my house shake.”
More from Lucasville: “Heard it several times. Sounded like a bomb going off!”
We hear you loud and clear—literally.
So What’s Really Going On?
No need to panic. What you heard (and possibly felt) was the sound of safety in action.
The 180th Fighter Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard is conducting night flying exercises from May 12–15, and these drills are the real reason the skies above southern Ohio have been full of thunder, light shows, and mystery jet trails.
Meet the 180th Fighter Wing
Based out of Swanton, Ohio, near Toledo, the 180FW has been serving since 1995. Their mission is no small potatoes:
“To provide for America—protection of the homeland, effective combat power and defense support to civil authorities—while developing Airmen, supporting their families, and serving in the community.”
In simple terms: they keep us safe, sharp, and ready for anything, anytime.
Why So Noisy?
The jets you saw (or didn’t see) are F-16 Fighting Falcons, capable of jaw-dropping speeds and cutting-edge defense maneuvers. When they go supersonic, they create sonic booms—which explains the thunderous shakes and mysterious echoes around town.
These exercises happen in places like:
- Buckeye/Brushcreek Airspace (yep, that’s us in southern Ohio!)
- Alpena Airspace Complex in Michigan
- Indiana Air Range Complex
The F-16 pilots train with radar systems, electronic attacks, and simulated missile sites. It’s like the world’s most intense (and loudest) flight school, except these students are already elite.
But Wait—There’s More
The 180FW isn’t just about flashy air maneuvers:
- The 180th Medical Group takes care of over 1,000 personnel, keeping them healthy and deployment-ready.
- The Fire & Emergency Services Department answers 24/7 emergency calls, responding to everything from medical rescues to wildfires (over 190 calls last year).
- The Propulsion Team builds and tests engines that keep our jets in the air and ready to roll—supporting missions all over the globe.
And just in case you think this is all video game simulation—think again. The 180FW’s F-16 Mission Training Center, launched in 2021, allows pilots to practice global combat missions virtually, all while connected in real-time with teams around the world.
So… UFOs?
Well, sort of. Just not the alien kind.
What folks witnessed was the awe-inspiring result of advanced aircraft doing exactly what they were designed to do: protect our skies, train our pilots, and keep America safe.
So the next time your windows rattle and your dog hides under the couch, you’ll know—it’s not little green men. It’s the 180th Fighter Wing doing the hard, loud work of defending our homeland.
Want to Know More?
Stay tuned to local alerts, and follow the Ohio Air National Guard for updates. Training exercises are temporary—but our gratitude for the men and women of the 180FW is permanent.
And hey—next time you spot a “UFO,” don’t panic. Snap a photo, share it, and salute the skies. You’re in good hands.