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UFO sightings in United States: documented cases, reports, and evidence

Detailed dossiers, source links, and evidence notes for cases connected to United States.

40 of 40 cases
2024 United States drone sightings2024 United States drone sightings is a 2024 UFO/UAP case centered on New Jersey and northeastern U.S.. The 2024 United States drone sightings were a nationwide attention wave that began in New Jersey, spread across the Northeast, and forced federal agencies to explain what was real, what was misidentified, and what remained a drone-security concern. The public mystery was dramatic; the best-supported conclusion is more layered: many sightings were lawful drones, aircraft, stars, planets, or viral misreadings, while a smaller set of military-site incursions remained a serious airspace-security issue rather than evidence of alien craft. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade B / DISPUTED2023 high-altitude object events2023 high-altitude object events is a 2023 UFO/UAP case centered on United States and Canada. The 2023 high-altitude object events were a short but intense North American airspace crisis that followed the Chinese surveillance balloon incident. In less than two weeks, U.S. and Canadian authorities tracked and shot down several objects over Alaska, Yukon and Lake Huron. The public mystery was dramatic, but the best-supported reading is more practical than exotic: radar sensitivity, aviation safety concerns, balloons, possible research or commercial platforms, and uncertainty over debris recovery combined into a modern UAP-adjacent security episode. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade B / EXPLAINEDLos Angeles jetpack man reportsLos Angeles jetpack man reports is a 2020 UFO/UAP case centered on Los Angeles, California. Pilots reported a human-like object near Los Angeles airspace, prompting FAA and FBI attention. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade C / DISPUTEDUSS Omaha sphere videoUSS Omaha sphere video is a 2019 UFO/UAP case centered on Pacific Ocean off California. A video associated with USS Omaha shows a spherical object apparently moving toward the water. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade B / UNRESOLVEDGimbal UAP videoGimbal UAP video is a 2015 UFO/UAP case centered on Atlantic training range. A U.S. Navy infrared video known as Gimbal shows an object apparently rotating during a training flight. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade A / UNRESOLVEDGoFast UAP videoGoFast UAP video is a 2015 UFO/UAP case centered on Atlantic training range. The GoFast video shows an object tracked by a Navy aircraft sensor and later released by the Pentagon. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade A / DISPUTEDMorristown UFO hoaxMorristown UFO hoax is a 2009 UFO/UAP case centered on Morristown, New Jersey. Red lights over New Jersey were later admitted to be a staged hoax using balloons and flares. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade A / EXPLAINEDStephenville UFO sightingsStephenville UFO sightings is a 2008 UFO/UAP case centered on Stephenville, Texas. Residents reported large silent objects near Stephenville, later tied by some to military training flights. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade B / DISPUTEDChicago O'Hare UFO sightingChicago O'Hare UFO sighting is a 2006 UFO/UAP case centered on Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Airport employees reported a disc-like object over O'Hare that appeared to punch through clouds. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade B / UNRESOLVEDNimitz Tic Tac UFO encounterThe Nimitz Tic Tac encounter is one of the strongest modern military UAP cases because it combines trained aviator testimony, shipboard radar claims, infrared video, and later official acknowledgement that the video records unidentified aerial phenomena.United StatesGrade A / UNRESOLVEDPhoenix LightsThe Phoenix Lights became one of the best-known mass-sighting cases of the 1990s because many people across Arizona reported a large formation or lights, while later video of separate lights was linked to military flares.United StatesGrade B / EXPLAINEDGulf Breeze UFO incidentGulf Breeze UFO incident is a 1987 UFO/UAP case centered on Gulf Breeze, Florida. A series of photographs and sightings made Gulf Breeze a major late-1980s UFO controversy. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade C / DISPUTEDJapan Air Lines Flight 1628Japan Air Lines Flight 1628 is a 1986 UFO/UAP case centered on Alaska airspace. A cargo crew reported large unidentified objects while flying over Alaska. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade B / UNRESOLVEDHudson Valley UFO waveHudson Valley UFO wave is a 1983 UFO/UAP case centered on Hudson Valley, New York. Thousands reported large V-shaped or boomerang-like lights over the Hudson Valley region. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade B / DISPUTEDCash-Landrum incidentCash-Landrum incident is a 1980 UFO/UAP case centered on Dayton, Texas. Witnesses reported a close encounter with a bright object and later health effects. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade C / DISPUTEDVal Johnson incidentVal Johnson incident is a 1979 UFO/UAP case centered on Marshall County, Minnesota. Sheriff's deputy Val Johnson reported an encounter with a bright light that damaged his patrol car. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade C / DISPUTEDTravis Walton abductionTravis Walton abduction is a 1975 UFO/UAP case centered on Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, Arizona. Logger Travis Walton disappeared for several days after coworkers reported a UFO encounter. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade C / DISPUTEDCoyne helicopter incidentCoyne helicopter incident is a 1973 UFO/UAP case centered on Mansfield, Ohio. An Army Reserve helicopter crew reported a close encounter with a bright object over Ohio. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade B / UNRESOLVEDFalkville metal manFalkville metal man is a 1973 UFO/UAP case centered on Falkville, Alabama. A police chief photographed a metallic-looking figure during a reported UFO-related encounter. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade D / DISPUTEDPascagoula abductionPascagoula abduction is a 1973 UFO/UAP case centered on Pascagoula, Mississippi. Charles Hickson and Calvin Parker reported being taken aboard a craft while fishing. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade C / DISPUTEDMinot Air Force Base UFO caseMinot Air Force Base UFO case is a 1968 UFO/UAP case centered on North Dakota. Military personnel and a B-52 crew reported unusual aerial activity near Minot AFB. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade B / UNRESOLVEDMalmstrom missile UFO reportsMalmstrom missile UFO reports is a 1967 UFO/UAP case centered on Montana. Former missile personnel later connected UFO reports with missile shutdown events at Malmstrom. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade B / DISPUTEDLevelland UFO caseLevelland UFO case is a 1957 UFO/UAP case centered on Levelland, Texas. Motorists reported bright objects and temporary vehicle failures near Levelland. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade B / DISPUTEDKelly-Hopkinsville encounterKelly-Hopkinsville encounter is a 1955 UFO/UAP case centered on Christian County, Kentucky. A family reported being besieged by small beings after seeing a light, producing a famous close-encounter case. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade C / DISPUTEDEllsworth AFB UFO reportEllsworth AFB UFO report is a 1953 UFO/UAP case centered on South Dakota. A Cold War air base report involving unidentified aerial activity entered UFO case catalogs. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade C / DISPUTEDKinross incidentKinross incident is a 1953 UFO/UAP case centered on Lake Superior. An interceptor disappeared over Lake Superior after being vectored toward an unidentified radar target. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade B / UNRESOLVEDFlatwoods monsterFlatwoods monster is a 1952 UFO/UAP case centered on Flatwoods, West Virginia. Residents reported a strange figure after seeing a bright object, producing one of the best-known creature-linked UFO stories. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade C / EXPLAINEDNash-Fortenberry UFO sightingNash-Fortenberry UFO sighting is a 1952 UFO/UAP case centered on Chesapeake Bay, Virginia. Two Pan American pilots reported a formation of bright objects over Chesapeake Bay. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade B / UNRESOLVEDWashington D.C. UFO incidentWashington D.C. UFO incident is a 1952 UFO/UAP case centered on Washington, D.C.. Radar returns and visual reports over Washington, D.C. triggered military attention across two weekends. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade B / DISPUTEDFort Monmouth UFO caseFort Monmouth UFO case is a 1951 UFO/UAP case centered on New Jersey. Radar operators and pilots reported fast unidentified targets near Fort Monmouth. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade B / UNRESOLVEDLubbock LightsLubbock Lights is a 1951 UFO/UAP case centered on Lubbock, Texas. Witnesses in Lubbock reported V-shaped formations of lights, with photographs later published widely. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade B / DISPUTEDMariana UFO filmMariana UFO film is a 1950 UFO/UAP case centered on Great Falls, Montana. Nicholas Mariana filmed bright objects over Great Falls in one of the early motion-picture UFO cases. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade B / DISPUTEDMcMinnville UFO photographsMcMinnville UFO photographs is a 1950 UFO/UAP case centered on McMinnville, Oregon. The Trent family photographs became among the most famous early UFO images. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade B / DISPUTEDAztec UFO incidentAztec UFO incident is a 1948 UFO/UAP case centered on Aztec, New Mexico. A crash-retrieval story alleging a recovered craft near Aztec became part of UFO lore. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade D / DISPUTEDChiles-Whitted UFO encounterChiles-Whitted UFO encounter is a 1948 UFO/UAP case centered on Alabama and Georgia air route. Two Eastern Air Lines pilots reported a glowing cigar-shaped object passing their aircraft. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade B / UNRESOLVEDGorman dogfightGorman dogfight is a 1948 UFO/UAP case centered on Fargo, North Dakota. Pilot George Gorman reported maneuvering with a light-like object over Fargo. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade B / UNRESOLVEDMantell UFO incidentMantell UFO incident is a 1948 UFO/UAP case centered on Kentucky. Pilot Thomas Mantell died while pursuing an unidentified object later associated with a high-altitude balloon explanation. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade B / EXPLAINEDKenneth Arnold sightingKenneth Arnold sighting is a 1947 UFO/UAP case centered on Mount Rainier, Washington. Pilot Kenneth Arnold reported seeing fast crescent-like objects near Mount Rainier, helping popularize the phrase flying saucer. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade B / UNRESOLVEDMaury Island incidentMaury Island incident is a 1947 UFO/UAP case centered on Puget Sound, Washington. A controversial pre-Roswell story involving alleged debris from unidentified craft over Puget Sound. This dossier separates what was reported, what evidence exists, what institutions or public sources said, and which conventional explanations remain plausible.United StatesGrade D / DISPUTEDRoswell incidentRoswell is the most famous alleged UFO crash story, but its archive value depends on separating the July 1947 debris recovery from later alien-body and crash-retrieval narratives.United StatesGrade C / EXPLAINED