Soldiers at one of America’s most important military bases were forced to shelter in place after a mysterious drone set off a terror alert on US soil.
Officials at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana revealed that an ‘unmanned aerial system’ – better known as a remote-controlled drone – was spotted near the facility Monday morning.
Since drones are strictly prohibited from flying near or over the base, the Air Force temporarily raised their Force Protection Condition (FPCON) level to ‘Charlie,’ meaning a possible terrorist threat had been detected.
Barksdale Air Force Base is home to the military’s fleet of B-52 bombers, capable of delivering nuclear strikes around the world.
Base officials noted that Monday’s incident was still under investigation, and no details on where the mystery drone came from or if it was captured have emerged.
The Louisiana base has long been considered a major target of US adversaries because it serves as the headquarters for Air Force Global Strike Command and the Eighth Air Force.
A Barksdale AFB spokesperson told the Daily Mail: ‘Under state and federal law, any unauthorized drone activity over a military installation is a criminal offense that can result in significant fines and imprisonment.’
‘We retain the right to protect our installation and will continue monitoring our airspace to address any threats to our mission or personnel.’
Personnel at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana were ordered to shelter in place on Monday due to a potential hostile drone in the area
Barksdale AFB is home to three squadrons of B-52s (Pictured), a long-range bomber which can carry out global nuclear strikes
The B-52H Stratofortress is one of the country’s most terrifying aircraft, especially as tensions in the Middle East spark rhetoric of nuclear escalation.
It is a long-range, heavy bomber capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet.
The B-52 also has a range of approximately 8,800 miles without refueling, meaning it can reach Europe, the Middle East and Asia without needing to land.
The bomber has become famous for its ability to carry up to 70,000 pounds of ordnance for both conventional and nuclear strikes and its round-the-clock patrols during times of extreme crisis, like during the Cold War.
Three squadrons of B-52s call Barksdale AFB home, and the military has warned that penalties for approaching this base have recently been increased.
In July 2025, airmen from Barksdale’s legal office worked with Louisiana state lawmakers to update the state’s drone law, expanding restrictions on unauthorized flights to include Barksdale, US Navy ships, ports and other facilities across the state.
Monday’s incident was the first reported incident causing a military base in the continental US to shelter in place since the start of the war in Iran.
US military bases in the Middle East have come under repeated attack from missile and drone strikes since the start of the conflict in Iran broke out on February 28.
Barksdale AFB officials said the drone incident was still under investigation by the military and the FAA
In Louisiana, state laws have been ungraded to include increased fines and prison time for any unauthorized drone flights over Barksdale AFB
Two days later, all military bases worldwide were placed on a heightened state of alert for potential retaliation or terror attacks.
All bases in the US and abroad are reportedly at FPCON Bravo, meaning there is an ‘increased and more predictable threat of terrorist activity.’
The incident over Barksdale adds to the growing list of unexplained sightings and potentially hostile drone incidents around US military sites since 2024.
Hundreds of bizarre drone sightings were reported along the East Coast starting in November of that year and continuing into early 2025, including over local military bases in New York and Ohio and President Trump’s property in New Jersey.
US Air Force Staff Sergeant Ramiro Valero said in a 2025 statement: ‘People who try to fly near a military base might have malicious intent. With the harsher punishments, they might think twice before trying it.’
The updated penalties covering the airspace over Barksdale now call for a fine of up to $250,000 and at least one year in prison for the drone flyer, according to the Air Force.
However, Louisiana state law R.S. 14:337(E)(5) states that a person convicted of flying an unauthorized drone over federal or military installations could also face ‘five years of hard labor imprisonment and court-ordered forfeiture of the drone.’
