SALT LAKE CITY — The morning after thousands were entertained by fighter jets circling over the Salt Lake Valley, we finally have answers as to who felt the need for speed.
For about an hour Tuesday evening, four F-35A Lightning II jets were seen and heard (loudly) flying across the valley, leaving many to wonder what was happening.
While most longtime residents are well accustomed to hearing fighter jets overhead as they fly from nearby Hill Air Force Base in Davis County, no one could remember a time when the aircraft would chart a continuous pattern of "laps" around the valley.
Some on FOX 13 News social media pages believed the jets performed 13 "laps" before flying off at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Video below shows F-35 fighter jets flying over Salt Lake Valley:
Many people offered their versions of what was taking place, including "burning off old fuel" to "maybe they're chasing UFOs?"
The answer is a lot less exciting than aliens.
According to a Hill Air Force Base spokesperson, the jets with the 388th Fighter Wing were participating in a flyover ahead of the Utah Talons softball game at Dumke Family Softball Stadium on the campus of the University of Utah.
The lengthy pre-flight over the valley was due to pilots seeking to time the flyover maneuver perfectly and was incorporated into a previously scheduled training mission.
"We understand that the noise from this holding pattern may have been disruptive to residents in the surrounding communities, and we appreciate the public's patience," said spokesperson Micah Garbarino. "Flyovers like this provide our pilots with valuable 'time-on-target' training and allow us to demonstrate our continued support and partnership with the local Utah community."
With the massively popular Warriors Over the Wasatch Air Show being canceled this year due to the Iran War, the "show" on Wednesday might have provided the next best thing!
