The fascination with unidentified flying objects (UFOs) has captured the imagination of people worldwide, including those in South Carolina. Reports of strange lights and unusual objects in the sky continue to intrigue and puzzle residents across the state. While many sightings can be attributed to natural phenomena or man-made objects, some remain unexplained, fueling speculation and curiosity.
Composite image of various reported UFO sightings.
Historical Context of UFO Beliefs
The modern fascination with UFOs can be traced back to June 1947, when pilot Kenneth Arnold reported seeing nine curious, wingless objects speeding through the sky near Mount Rainier, Washington. Arnold described these objects as "flying saucers," a term that has since become synonymous with UFOs. Since then, Americans have been uniquely fixated on the idea that aliens are somewhere in the sky above us-and the number who believe that to be true is growing.
Belief in aliens has become prevalent in the United States due to government hearings and pop culture. America's film industry has always been one of the most influential in the world, and a wave of science fiction films in the 1950s, like "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," perpetuated the idea that there are other life-forms out there. In April 2020, the Department of Defense released multiple videos filmed by military pilots that were thought to possibly capture UFOs. Just like it did in the 1950s amid Cold War paranoia, the lore of UFOs is also currently experiencing a resurgence as many Americans grow concerned about national security.
In 2019, a Gallup survey found that 33% of Americans believed some UFOs were alien spacecrafts, while 60% felt they could all be explained by human activity or some natural phenomenon. Just two years later, in 2021, 41% of respondents said they believed at least some UFOs were alien-related compared to 50% who were confident any sightings could be explained by human behavior or scientific events.
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Views about UFOs in the United States. Source: Pew Research Center, 2021.
UFO Sightings in South Carolina
South Carolina residents have reported 47 sightings of unidentified flying objects across the state this year, according to the National UFO Reporting Center. South Carolina isn’t the greatest hotbed for UFO reports in the U.S, but it is no slouch either, a recent study shows. According to the study, South Carolina ranks 22nd among the states with 2,134 UFO reports.
So far this year, Irmo, Myrtle Beach and the Cross community are tied for most UFO sightings in the state so far this year. Each has three separately reported UFO encounters, according to the National UFO Reporting Center.
The latest UFO was reported on Oct. 6 in Sumter. and was on a straight road when he noticed two orange lights over a forest. Another report made on Sept. 15 on Kiawah Island states that a woman and her husband were walking along the beach when they saw a reddish orange sphere in the sky that seemed to be moving, but then started hovering in place.
Example UFO Sightings Reports:
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- Sumter, Oct. 6: Witness reported seeing two orange lights over a forest while driving on a straight road.
- Kiawah Island, Sept. 15: A couple reported seeing a reddish-orange sphere in the sky that changed colors and shapes while they were walking along the beach.
While many people associate UFOs with alien visitors from other planets, the term refers to any aerial phenomenon that cannot be explained. Scientists and skeptic organizations routinely do eventually identify many reported UFOs as being more mundane in nature, such as atmospheric phenomena or man-made objects. Still, UFO reports persist.
In November 2024, the Pentagon announced that most reported sightings of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs, as they're now known) can be attributed to balloons, drones, and other regular objects, while still noting that many objects lack a sufficient explanation.
National UFO Reporting Center
Those who believe they've seen something otherworldly can report it to the National UFO Reporting Center, which relies on volunteers to separate fact from fiction. The National UFO Reporting Center was founded in 1974 by noted UFO investigator, Robert J. Patrick McCreless is the Southeast service journalism editor for McClatchy, who leads and edits a team of six reporters in South Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi.
While New Mexico and Nevada are perhaps best known for UFO sightings, the National UFO Reporting Center data shows that the state with the most sightings is California, with more than 16,500 reports as of April 25, 2025. Data encompasses all reports of UFO sightings dating back to 1995.
Massive UFO over South Carolina Myrtle beach.
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