A fireball-like luminous event was observed over Weifang and Rizhao in Shandong Province, China, between 12:45 and 13:02 UTC on September 12, 2025. Videos showed a bright object crossing the night sky followed by a flash, leading to speculation on social media that it was intercepted or shot down.
A bright, fireball-like luminous event was reported over eastern China between 20:45 and 21:02 local time (12:45–13:02 UTC) on September 12.
Witnesses in Weifang and Rizhao, Shandong Province, observed a bright aerial object followed by a flash, and several videos of the event circulated widely on social media platforms.
Some posts and local media headlines described the flash as a possible intercept or shoot-down, suggesting a second rising light was visible before the event. The claims spread quickly online, prompting speculation of a military action.
On September 13, however, the Weifang Emergency Management Bureau stated it had received no information regarding any interception or shoot-down, and no official determination of the object’s nature has been made.
The event coincided with live-fire navigation warnings in effect in the Yellow Sea (September 10–25) and the Bohai Sea (September 11–15), issued by the Maritime Safety Administration. However, no connection between these exercises and the observed event has been established.
The International Meteor Organization and American Meteor Society fireball databases did not list China-based reports matching the time and location. However, they rarely get reports from China as participation from this region is limited.
At present, the phenomenon remains unconfirmed, with no authoritative determination of its nature.