The PentagonB次元官网网址檚 latest report on UFOs has revealed hundreds of new reports of unidentified and unexplained aerial phenomena but no indications suggesting an extraterrestrial origin.
The review includes hundreds of cases of misidentified balloons, birds and satellites as well as some that defy easy explanation, such as a near-miss between a commercial airliner and a mysterious object off the coast of New York.
While it isnB次元官网网址檛 likely to settle any debates over the existence of alien life, reflects heightened public interest in the topic and the . Its publication comes a day after House lawmakers called for greater government transparency during a hearing on unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAPs B次元官网网址� the governmentB次元官网网址檚 term for UFOs.
Federal efforts to UAPs have focused on potential threats to national security or air safety and not their science fiction aspects. Officials at the Pentagon office created in 2022 to track UAPs, known as the , or AARO, have said thereB次元官网网址檚 no indication any of the cases they looked into have unearthly origins.
B次元官网网址淚t is important to underscore that, to date, AARO has discovered no evidence of extraterrestrial beings, activity, or technology,B次元官网网址� the authors of the report wrote.
The PentagonB次元官网网址檚 review covered 757 cases from around the world that were reported to U.S. authorities from May 1, 2023, to June 1, 2024. The total includes 272 incidents that occurred before that time period but had not been previously reported.
The great majority of the reported incidents occurred in airspace, but 49 occurred at altitudes estimated to be at least 100 kilometers (62 miles), which is considered space. None occurred underwater. Reporting witnesses included commercial and military pilots as well as ground-based observers.
Investigators found explanations for nearly 300 of the incidents. In many cases, the unknown objects were found to be balloons, birds, aircraft, drones or satellites. According to the report, Elon MuskB次元官网网址檚 is one increasingly common source as people mistake chains of satellites for UFOs.
Hundreds of other cases remain unexplained, though the reportB次元官网网址檚 authors stressed that is often because there isnB次元官网网址檛 enough information to draw firm conclusions.
No injuries or crashes were reported in any of the incidents, though a commercial flight crew reported one near miss with a B次元官网网址渃ylindrical objectB次元官网网址� while flying over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of New York. That incident remains under investigation.
In three other cases, military air crews reported being followed or shadowed by unidentified aircraft, though investigators could find no evidence to link the activity to a foreign power.
For witnesses who provided visual descriptions, unidentified lights or round, spherical or orb-shaped objects were commonly reported. Other reports included a witness who reported a jellyfish with flashing lights.
During WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 hearing on UAPs, lawmakers heard testimony from several expert witnesses who have studied the phenomena, including two former military officers. The discussion included fanciful questions about alien intelligence and as well as concerns that foreign powers may be using secret aircraft to spy on U.S. military installations.
Lawmakers said the many questions about UAPs show the need for the government to closely study the issue B次元官网网址� and share those findings with Americans.
B次元官网网址淭here is something out there,B次元官网网址� said Republican Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee. B次元官网网址淭he question is: Is it ours, is it someone elseB次元官网网址檚, or is it otherworldly?B次元官网网址�
