REPORT OF INVESTIGATION (CLOSED) — I/MCRD SAN DIEGO/CIVILIAN DRONE FOUND NEAR GATE 2 OF MCRD SAN DIEGO

This document is a closed Report of Investigation by the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) regarding a civilian drone found on the grounds of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) San Diego. On August 14, 2014, a landscaper discovered a quadcopter drone and a separate battery in a grassy area near Gate 2 of the base. The drone, identified as a Flame Wheel F450 model, was equipped with a Sony camera and a transmitter. Following the discovery, NCIS initiated an investigation to determine the origin of the device and whether it posed a security threat. During the investigation, several reports of an 'Unidentified Flying Object' (UFO) were received from base personnel stationed at Gate 2. Witnesses described seeing an object hovering, rotating, and spinning in the distance. These reports were investigated alongside the drone recovery. The investigation successfully identified the owner of the drone, a USN member who had lost control of the device while flying it in the vicinity of the base. The owner provided a sworn statement explaining that the drone had malfunctioned and drifted onto the base property. Forensic examination of the drone by NCIS Pacific Cyber Forensics and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory confirmed that the device did not contain any on-board digital storage or sensitive data. The investigation concluded that there was no criminal intent involved in the incident. The reported UFO sightings were determined to be related to the drone or other misidentified objects. All leads were exhausted, and the case was officially closed.