In what can only be described as an aerial 'Ice Bucket Challenge' gone horribly wrong, a New Jersey family had a close encounter of the frosty kind. It was around 9:30 p.m. in Paterson, NJ when a massive chunk of ice, seemingly fallen from a plane, crash-landed through their suburban home's roof, nearly crushing the unsuspecting family below (New York Post, June 14, 2024; Fox News, June 15, 2024).

The family was seated less than 12 feet away from the impact zone when the sky decided to drop a not-so-gentle reminder that gravity is very much in effect. If only they had been sipping their nightly cocoa in the basement instead (New York Post, June 14, 2024; Fox News, June 15, 2024). Their home, situated inconveniently under several flight paths, has now filed a claim with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to investigate the mysterious source of the frigid missile (New York Post, June 14, 2024; Fox News, June 15, 2024).

Remarkably, nobody was harmed in this rather unorthodox precipitation event (New York Post, June 14, 2024). However, the damage to the roof is significant, likely necessitating a complete replacement. Perhaps the family can now ask their homeowner's association how they feel about adding an above-ground pool—rooftop, obviously (New York Post, June 14, 2024).

This isn't the first time a chunk of ice has decided to manifest destiny right onto someone's home. Shockingly, a similar incident took place nearly a year ago in Massachusetts, where a chunk weighing somewhere between 15 and 20 pounds also crash-landed onto a house (New York Post, June 14, 2024; Fox News, June 15, 2024). Each household's residents probably now share the same "lucky but slightly traumatized" club membership.

Security footage from the Paterson home shows the family's quick reflexes as they jumped out of their seats upon hearing the crash. Understandably, sudden free-falling cryogenics isn't something one expects during a quiet evening at home (New York Post, June 14, 2024).

The FAA explained that aircraft icing can occur due to supercooled water hitting the leading edges of the plane, essentially turning the aircraft into a high-altitude ice machine. Kudos to the FAA for solving at least one part of the mystery: how ice is made (New York Post, June 14, 2024).

The FAA also confirmed to Fox News Digital that they indeed investigate reports of such incidents, though one might wonder if investigators draw straws to avoid these particularly chilling cases (Fox News, June 15, 2024).

While the New Jersey family is safe, their story serves as a stark reminder to keep an eye on the sky—not just for UFOs, but for icebergs that refuse to play by oceanic rules. Perhaps the next suburban carnival should feature ice cream socials with a side of hard hats. Just a thought.