Most reported UFO sightings are ‘unremarkable,’ Pentagon review finds

📍 Location

📝 Description

The latest official examination of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) by the U.S. All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) was published as the Fiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Annual Report on UAP (released November 14, 2024). It covers UAP reports from May 1, 2023 to June 1, 2024, plus older cases not previously cataloged. AARO received 757 UAP reports in that period (about 485 incidents occurring within the period and 272 from earlier years). Overall, the office has reviewed more than 1,600 UAP reports to date. Of the 757 reports in the latest period, 118 cases were resolved to prosaic explanations (balloons, birds, drones, satellites, or aircraft), 174 cases were queued for closure, and 21 cases warranted further analysis as potential true anomalies. The report emphasizes that there is no evidence of extraterrestrial life or technology and attributes the majority of sightings to misidentified ordinary objects or natural phenomena. The distribution shows hotspots in the southeastern United States and Gulf of Mexico, the West Coast/Pacific Northwest, and select international areas, with increased reporting attributed to reduced stigma and improved data collection. Notably, there was a near-miss involving a cylindrical object off the coast of New York that remains under investigation. The DoD and ODNI stress ongoing analysis and transparency in congressional briefings.

🔍 Circumstances

Circumstances include a broad, government-wide data-gathering effort in response to NDAA requirements. Data sources include military observers (pilots, air-traffic coast observers), FAA-reported incidents, and international partners. The period analyzed spans May 1, 2023 to June 1, 2024, with additional legacy cases. Investigations rely on sensor data, witness accounts, and corroboration across agencies; a subset of cases was elevated for further scientific analysis, while the majority were attributed to ordinary objects or phenomena. A near-miss incident near New York was highlighted in the period under review.

👤 Physical Description

Most observed objects were described as lights or orb-like phenomena. Classification in the report shows the majority of cases resolved to known categories such as balloons, drones, birds, satellites, or aircraft. A small subset (21 cases) remained under analysis for potential anomalous characteristics. No consistent physical form emerged across all cases.

ℹ️ Additional Details

Key takeaways: (1) AARO has documented over 1,600 UAP reports to date; (2) 757 reports were analyzed in the FY24 period; (3) 118 cases resolved to prosaic explanations; (4) 174 cases queued for closure; (5) 21 cases require further analysis; (6) no evidence of extraterrestrial technology or life; (7) increased reporting is linked to reduced stigma and improved reporting channels; (8) ORNL and MIT involvement illustrate cross-institutional analysis; (9) a near-miss near New York is among notable incidents; (10) ongoing transparency with Congress is emphasized.

🔗 Sources (6)

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