The world is full of mysteries, and among the most intriguing are the sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs). These events have captured the imagination of people around the globe, sparking endless debates and theories about their origins.
The unexplained UFOs shot down over North America in February 2023 aren't the only flying objects buzzing around. These sightings, often shrouded in mystery, continue to give witnesses the shivers.
Newspaper Headline about Roswell UFO incident
Notable UFO Sightings
Here are some of the most bizarre and unexplained UFO sightings that have been reported over the years:
1. 'We're Not Crazy' - Yellowknife, Canada (2023)
In January 2023, Canadian air traffic controllers and pilots reported seeing two white lights moving in a circular pattern over Canada’s Northwest Territories. A crew member aboard a Canadian North flight asked, "Do you got two planes that are just to the east of your field doing circuits or maneuvers?" The Yellowknife air traffic controller replied, "Negative, I have no reported traffic in the area. Do you have a visual on something?"
Read also: Peridot gemstone guide
The crew responded, "Yeah, we're looking at two lights dancing around here, to the east of your field... They're above us, about, I don't know what. We're not seeing them on TCAS (traffic collision avoidance system). But we can see the lights moving around."
After a pause, the crew member radioed back to say, "We're not crazy." The air traffic controller replied, "No, we believe you." The sighting remains unexplained.
2. The Phoenix Lights Incident - Arizona, US (1997)
In 1997, multiple witnesses reported seeing a large, triangular-shaped object flying over Phoenix, Arizona. The object was described as being massive in size, silent, and emitting a series of lights. Despite the numerous eyewitness accounts and photographic evidence, the Phoenix Lights Incident remains a topic of debate and speculation. Some believe that the object was a secret military aircraft, while others believe that it was an extraterrestrial spacecraft.
The Phoenix Lights as imagined by an artist
3. Rendlesham Forest Incident - Suffolk, UK (1980)
The Rendlesham Forest Incident took place in England in 1980 near the joint US-UK military base of RAF Bentwaters and RAF Woodbridge. According to eyewitnesses, military officers encountered an unidentified glowing object in the forest, which they described as being metallic and emitting a bright light. They also reported strange symbols etched on the object's surface, and they claimed that they experienced a range of physical and psychological effects after the encounter. Despite an official investigation by the military, the Rendlesham Forest Incident remains unexplained.
Read also: The Sixth Sign
4. The Gulf Breeze Six - Gulf Breeze, Florida (1987-1988)
The Gulf Breeze Six refers to a series of UFO sightings that took place in Gulf Breeze, Florida in the late 1980s. According to accounts, six Florida residents claimed to have encountered a series of strange flying objects, including a large triangular-shaped craft. Some believe that the sightings were genuine encounters with extraterrestrial craft, while others argue that they were hoaxes or misidentifications of other aircraft. Despite official investigations, there are no clear-cut answers.
5. The Westall UFO Incident - Melbourne, Australia (1966)
The Westall UFO Incident took place in Melbourne, Australia in 1966 when a large, disc-shaped object was seen hovering low in the sky above a school in the suburb of Westall. The object was described as being silent and emitting a bright light, and it reportedly landed briefly in a nearby field before taking off again. The sighting was reported by multiple witnesses, including students and teachers at the school. The site is now a UFO-themed children’s playground.
6. The Lakenheath-Bentwaters Incident - England, UK (1956)
The UFO sighting took place in England in 1956 when a series of strange lights were seen in the sky over the Bentwaters and Lakenheath air bases. They were described as being large, glowing objects that were flying at high speeds and performing unusual maneuvers. The sighting was reported by multiple witnesses, including military personnel. It remains one of the most mysterious and unexplained UFO sightings in Europe.
7. The Maury Island Incident - Puget Sound, Washington, US (1947)
The Maury Island Incident took place in Puget Sound, Washington in 1947. A large, doughnut-shaped object was seen hovering above the waters of Puget Sound, and strange objects, including rocks and metal fragments, reportedly fell from the craft and landed on the nearby island of Maury. The sighting was reported by two witnesses and to this day, the incident continues to generate interest and speculation among UFO enthusiasts.
8. The World's UFO Hotspot - Bonnybridge, Scotland (1992-2023)
The picturesque Scottish town of Bonnybridge between Glasgow and Edinburgh is the world's UFO hotspot with more than 6,000 sightings and residents are demanding to know why. Local councilor Billy Buchanan wants a government investigation: “Is it military? We don’t know. But we demand to know.’’
Read also: Contact with Extraterrestrials
UFO experts have descended on Bonnybridge but no one can explain the alien crop circles or sightings that began in 1992 when a motorist reported a craft floating over the road nestled between the dark rolling mountains and misty glens.
9. The Coyne Helicopter Incident - Ohio, US (1973)
The Coyne Helicopter Incident is a well-known UFO sighting that took place in Ohio in 1973. An Army Reserve helicopter was flying over Mansfield, Ohio when it encountered a strange, cylindrical object that was reportedly hovering in the air. The object was described as being over 100 feet in length and having several lights on its surface. The helicopter crew reported that their instruments were affected by the presence of the object, and that it appeared to be maneuvering in a way that defied the laws of physics.
Coyne Helicopter Incident
10. The Delphos UFO Sighting - Delphos, Kansas, US (1971)
In 1971, a large, glowing object was reportedly seen hovering in the sky above Delphos. It was described as being circular in shape and emitting a bright light. The sighting was reported by multiple witnesses.
Government Investigations and Reports
In 2020, the Pentagon released three grainy videos taken by Navy pilots who witnessed speeding objects mysteriously disappear. After a thorough review, the DoD found the videos did not reveal any sensitive capabilities or systems, and did not ”impinge on any subsequent investigations of military airspace incursions by unidentified aerial phenomena.” The videos show what pilots saw during training flights in 2004 and 2015. They remain unexplained.
The United States European Command submitted a report of an unidentified anomalous phenomenon to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) consisting of thirty seconds of video footage from a commercially available cellular device’s rear-facing digital camera in 2024.
An Air Force platform captured footage while operating over the Mediterranean Sea. This footage depicts an object that appears to be transiting a plume of superheated gas and ash produced by an eruption of Mt. Etna, a volcano in Sicily, Italy. AARO coordinated an interagency and international analytical effort that determined that optical effects from the intense atmospheric conditions near the volcano distorted the video, causing the object to appear to transit the plume.
A Customs and Border Protection aircraft captured footage of a UAP event over the Rafael Hernandez Airport near Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The footage appears to depict a UAP moving at high speed, splitting into two objects, and entering and exiting the water before disappearing into the ocean off Puerto Rico's northwestern coast. AARO assesses with high confidence that the objects did not demonstrate anomalous speeds or flight behaviors. Analysis of the full motion video, combined with commercial flight data in the region, led AARO to assess that the objects were three separate commercial aircraft flying at a great distance from the infrared sensor.
An MQ-9 forward-looking infrared video sensor captured footage in South Asia as it was recording another MQ-9.
Common Misconceptions and Explanations
Upon investigation, most UFOs are identified as known objects or atmospheric phenomena, while a small number remain unexplained. UFOs have been referred to using a range of terms including the more specific "flying saucer" and the more general term "unidentified anomalous phenomena" (UAP).
AARO assesses, with high confidence, that the objects depicted in some videos are almost certainly birds or balloons. The footage shows an apparent heat signature with characteristics consistent with those of a physical object, However, AARO cannot determine whether the observed signature originates from a physical source, either as a thermal emission or a thermal reflection, or other source, such as a heat differential in the environment or sensor display error.
In other cases, AARO assesses that the object depicted in the video demonstrates performance characteristics consistent with those of a prosaic aircraft. However, the available data is insufficient to attribute the object to a specific origin or render a determination on its type or application.
AARO assesses that the object was a cluster of partially and fully inflated balloons. The object's appearance is consistent with other recorded observations featuring balloon clusters. AARO assesses that the object did not demonstrate anomalous performance characteristics.
Unidentified Submersible Objects (USOs)
Unidentified Submersible Objects (USOs) are defined as "any object detected underwater that cannot be immediately identified or explained," according to the outlet. USOs can be observed through both technological sensors and by the naked eye - with witnesses often describing them as moving at incredibly fast speeds, making precise changes of direction and possessing "transmedium" capabilities by seamlessly transitioning between water and air.
Data on UFO Sightings
NUFORC has collected over 100,000 UFO reports spanning decades. The most common description was of "lights" in the sky, and many UFOs were of an "unknown" or "unspecified" shape. As of 2025, other reported shapes include:
| Shape | Number of Reports |
|---|---|
| Cubes | 90 |
| Cones | 643 |
| Crosses | 531 |
| Teardrops | 1273 |
| Stars | 280 |
California accounts for 389 reported sightings, with the Sunshine State coming in second place with 306 witness accounts.
The 2019 video depicts an unidentified object buzzing past the Navy’s USS Omaha ship, before plunging into the Pacific Ocean without a trace.