Naval Air Station Sigonella, a U.S. air base located outside of Catania on the island of Sicily, was placed on lockdown on Wednesday following an unspecified incident. Online posts indicated that the lockdown was implemented due to an ongoing situation at a gate for the base.
Service members were advised to avoid traveling on highway SP105 between the Marinai Housing Complex and a section of the base. The lockdown/shelter-in-place protocol remained in effect, although specific details regarding the nature of the incident were not provided in the online posts.
Naval Air Station Sigonella is known for hosting U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft and MQ-4C Triton drones. Additionally, personnel from the U.S. Space Force are stationed at the base, focusing on identifying potential missile threats in the region.
Efforts to obtain further information by contacting the U.S. Navy’s 6th Fleet, responsible for overseeing European operations, were unsuccessful as calls went unanswered and an email to the fleet was not immediately acknowledged.
The Italian Air Force also operates from the same base as NAS Sigonella, highlighting the collaborative military presence in the region. The situation at the air base remains under close monitoring as authorities work to address the incident and ensure the safety and security of all personnel on the base.
