Fishing charter crew spots military drone floating off Pensacola coast

A routine fishing trip turned into an unexpected salvage operation Saturday when the crew of Hot Spot Fishing Charters discovered a large military drone floating in waters off Pensacola.

Captain Daniel Arsenault and his crew initially spotted debris in the water—coolers and pool floats—before coming across the unmanned aircraft, according to WKRG News 5. The discovery raises questions about how the drone ended up in the Gulf, particularly given the proximity to NAS Pensacola and other military operations in the area.

It's unclear at this point which military branch operated the drone or the circumstances that led to it being in the water. The incident highlights the busy airspace and maritime activity along the Panhandle, where military training and operations are frequent.

The discovery was reported to authorities. NewsRadio Pensacola is working to learn more details about the drone's origin and whether it was recovered.