On the night of September 16, 2026, urban residents in Longxi County, Dingxi City, Gansu Province, noticed what appeared to be night training by the Chinese Air Force overhead, which continuously released decoy flares. The related sounds and commotion affected the rest of nearby residents, with some residents expressing confusion as to why flares were being dropped above residential areas. Currently, the provided materials do not include any explanation from the military regarding the nature of the training, the reasons for the deployment, or the safety perimeter.