In a recent episode of “Reality Check,” investigative journalist Ross Coulthart sat down with members of Nightcrawler Research, a citizen science group based in the New York metropolitan area, to discuss a series of unusual Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) sightings near the approaches to JFK International Airport. The group, comprised of Donna Leonardo and brothers Jerry and John Tedesco, shared details of three notable encounters they documented using advanced night vision equipment, infrared cameras, and radar systems—incidents that have since drawn the attention of both local witnesses and federal authorities.
The first sighting highlighted by Nightcrawler Research involved a spherical object observed moving in and out of ocean waters before traversing onto a nearby beach. According to the team, this event was captured with multiple cameras, providing compelling visual evidence of the object’s movement. “It appeared to come out of the water, then moved across the beach before ascending,” recounted John Tedesco. He emphasized the clarity and unusual nature of the footage, which has yet to find a conventional explanation.
Equally intriguing was a series of encounters with black triangular objects that appeared to materialize within cloud cover over the waterfront. These objects, described as “very dark or black,” were detected not only by the group’s cameras but also on radar, lending additional credibility to the sightings. “They resembled quadcopters in shape, but their behavior was entirely anomalous,” said Jerry Tedesco. Unlike typical drones, the objects reportedly emitted no sound and could not be seen with the naked eye when their lights were switched off. Even specialized infrared equipment struggled to track them in low-light conditions.
The third major incident involved a luminous, fiery red object that hovered in the sky, attracting the attention of independent witnesses. Nightcrawler Research noted that the object’s light pattern and flight characteristics did not match those of known aircraft or drones. The group’s observations were corroborated by unrelated bystanders and, according to the team, prompted formal reports to authorities, including the FBI. Jerry Tedesco noted, “This is a restricted airspace area near JFK, and we reported these incidents because of the potential safety and security implications.”
Coulthart pressed the team on the ongoing debate about the so-called “drone flap” in the New York and New Jersey region, a wave of sightings that some officials have sought to explain as drone activity or mass misperception. The Nightcrawler Research team pushed back against this assertion, insisting that the phenomena they recorded displayed flight characteristics and behaviors inconsistent with any known drone technology. “We’ve observed commercial drones before, and these are something else entirely,” Leonardo explained. She noted the lack of visible operators, absence of sound, and the objects’ ability to vanish from view as factors that rule out conventional explanations.
While definitive conclusions remain elusive, the group’s work underscores the growing role of citizen scientists in the investigation of UAPs. Their persistent documentation, multi-sensor evidence, and willingness to engage with authorities highlight both the complexity and the seriousness with which these sightings are now being treated. As Coulthart concluded, the convergence of eyewitness testimony, sophisticated imaging, and official interest suggests these phenomena merit further scrutiny—whether their origins prove to be terrestrial or otherwise.
