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Reporting / Updated 2026-06-21 / 7 min read

How to report a UFO or UAP sighting: what to record, preserve, and check first

A useful report is not just a story. It is a structured record of time, place, direction, duration, media, witnesses, and possible ordinary explanations.

Key points

  1. Record facts before interpretation: time, location, direction, duration, movement, sound, weather, and witnesses.
  2. Keep original photos and videos. Do not crop, filter, stabilize, or overwrite the first file.
  3. If there is immediate danger, report it to local emergency services or law enforcement first, not to a UFO website.

What to write down immediately

Write the report while the memory is fresh. Record the exact local time, date, location, viewing direction, elevation above the horizon, duration, movement pattern, apparent brightness, color, sound, weather, and whether other people saw the same thing. A rough sketch can help if it shows the horizon, buildings, stars, or aircraft paths used as reference points.

How to preserve media

If you recorded video or photos, keep the original files exactly as created by the device. Do not send only a social-media repost. Copy the original to a safe folder, note the device model, and preserve any separate audio or witness messages that establish time and context.

For analysis, the boring details matter: frame rate, exposure, focal length, stabilization, zoom level, file creation time, GPS metadata, and whether the camera was behind glass. These details often decide whether a light is extraordinary or simply misread.

Where to report

If the event involves immediate danger, suspected illegal drone operation, interference with aircraft, fire, injury, or a security threat, contact local emergency services or law enforcement first. In the United States, the FAA directs dangerous or criminal drone activity to local law enforcement first responders before aviation follow-up.

For archival reporting, submit structured information rather than conclusions. A good report says, 'I saw a silent amber light moving northwest for 90 seconds from this location at this time,' not only, 'I saw a UFO.'

FAQ

Should I edit my UFO video before submitting it?

No. Keep the original file. You can make a copy for public sharing, but the unedited file is more valuable for analysis.

What if I only have a short clip?

Submit it with context: where you stood, which direction you faced, what happened before and after, and whether anyone else recorded the same event.

Sources