Fishing Crew Reels in Odd Finding in the Water: a 10-Foot-Long U.S. Military Drone

**Florida Fishing Charter Crew Retrieves Military Drone from Sea**

In a remarkable turn of events, a fishing charter crew off the coast of Florida has recovered a nearly 10-foot-long military drone that was found floating in the waters near Eglin Air Force Base on Saturday, September 19, 2026. The incident unfolded during a routine fishing outing that has since garnered significant attention.

Daniel Arsenault, the captain of Hot Spots Charters based in Pensacola, took to social media to share news of the unusual catch. Accompanying a photograph of the drone on the bow of his boat, he quipped, “If anyone is looking for their drone please call Hot Spots!” The image captured not only the drone but also featured the crew and their fish haul for the day.

Eglin Air Force Base, located in the vicinity of the discovery, is home to the U.S. Air Force’s 96th Test Wing. Following the report made by the fishing crew, a spokesperson for the base confirmed that they had indeed lost a drone during a test, though further specifics were withheld, leaving it unclear whether the recovered drone was the same model.

Captain Arsenault recounted how his crew stumbled upon the aircraft, expressing surprise at the sight. “We were just riding along offshore when we saw it floating,” he commented in an interview. Another charter captain, Charlie Green, explained that Arsenault had initially spotted the drone from a distance and decided to investigate further, resulting in an unexpected catch of mahi-mahi that day.

Once the drone was pulled aboard the charter boat, the crew undertook the necessary steps to notify relevant authorities of their peculiar find. Green noted, “Arsenault and his charter company did all the due diligence possible to notify local agencies of the recovery, and it was eventually collected by one of them.”

Preliminary assessments suggest the drone is an FLM 136, classified as an unmanned aerial target aircraft employed by the military for training and weapons testing. This model, known as a Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS), bears resemblance to the Iranian Shahed-136 one-way attack weapon. Measuring approximately 9.8 feet in length and weighing around 70 pounds, it features a wingspan of about 8.2 feet.

Images of the drone have revealed that it was missing key components such as its engine, propeller, and nose cone. These losses are typical when an aircraft encounters a water landing. The incident has raised questions about the circumstances of the drone’s loss, although Eglin AFB’s spokesperson confirmed that a test article had indeed gone down but declined to disclose further information about the incident.

Following the recovery, Hot Spots Charters clarified that local officials had come to retrieve the drone, ensuring that the fishermen did not end up with a rather unique memento from their trip. “The black SUVs came and got their drone, all is good!” Arsenault wrote in his social media update.

As the story has unfolded, it has generated intrigue among both the local community and online audiences. Questions have been raised regarding the security of military assets and protocols concerning the operations of drones in proximity to civilian areas. The incident serves as a reminder of the complexities and potential challenges associated with military testing in regions shared with the public.

In light of these developments, inquiries have been made to the Pentagon for further information regarding the drone and the incident surrounding its recovery. Despite the unusual circumstance, hopes are that this event will not detract from the ongoing relationship between the military and local communities where such testing takes place. The story continues to unfold as further details are awaited.

As the interest surrounding this peculiar discovery grows, it reflects not only on the unexpected encounters one can have at sea but also on the intersection of civilian life and military operations in the region.