Two U.S. Air Force aircraft, identified by call signs FUEGO 01 and FUEGO 75 (a KC-135), departed MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, for the Caribbean region between 2:35 AM and 5:35 AM UTC on September 22nd, 2025. The aircraft reportedly experienced ADS-B signal disruptions, necessitating radio communication. This deployment occurred amid reports of unspecified military testing in the Atlantic Ocean, including the return of a Gulfstream G550 (HALO51) to San Juan, Puerto Rico, at approximately 2:35 AM UTC. The U.S. Air Force aircraft's departure was noted by an observer on social media platform X, who stated they had not encountered the "FUEGO" callsign previously. The observer also mentioned that the aircraft were communicating via radio until they could re-establish "DUE REGARD" status. The context for this radio communication and the "DUE REGARD" status is not officially explained. This activity follows reports from the evening of September 21st, 2025, of a potential submarine-launched ballistic missile test observed in the Northern Atlantic. The Caribbean Astronomy Society described the observed phenomenon as a "military test," although official confirmation from U.S. or British authorities regarding any such exercise has not been issued. The Gulfstream G550's flight path and operational purpose remain unconfirmed. The broader regional context includes ongoing diplomatic tensions between the United States and Venezuela. U.S. military presence in the area includes the aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman (CVN-75). Separately, the tenth report detailing alleged systematic political persecution in Venezuela is scheduled for presentation to the UN Human Rights Council on September 22nd, 2025.
