Attacks from air, upsetting detective sergeant (5)
I believe the answer is:
raids
'attacks' is the definition.
(raid is a kind of attack)
'air upsetting detective sergeant' is the wordplay.
'upsetting' indicates an anagram.
'detective sergeant' becomes 'ds' (abbreviation for detective sergeant).
'air' anagrammed gives 'rai'.
'rai'+'ds'='RAIDS'
'from' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for raids that I've seen before include "Invasions" , "Sudden attacks" , "Surprise attacks" , "Military attacks" , "Military incursions, forays" .)