Historical Archive

Credible Sightings Timeline

Documented UAP observations supported by military testimony, sensor data, official investigation, or government acknowledgment.

Editorial Standards

Entries must be supported by at least two of: military or pilot testimony, sensor or radar data, official government investigation or acknowledgment, declassified documents. Descriptions use neutral, factual language. No speculation about origin or intent. Unverified civilian sightings without corroborating data are excluded.

November 14, 2004

USS Nimitz “Tic Tac” Encounter — Pacific Ocean

During a routine training exercise off the coast of San Diego, the USS Princeton (part of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group) tracked anomalous radar contacts over several days. On November 14, Commander David Fravor and Lieutenant Commander Alex Dietrich were vectored to intercept a contact and observed a white, oblong object — later described as resembling a Tic Tac — manoeuvring erratically above a disturbance on the ocean surface. The object accelerated out of visual range within seconds.

A second aircraft subsequently captured the object on FLIR (Forward-Looking Infrared) video. The encounter involved multiple radar systems (SPY-1 on the Princeton, E-2C Hawkeye), visual observation by trained naval aviators, and infrared video. The FLIR footage was officially released by the Pentagon in April 2020. Commander Fravor testified before the House Oversight Committee on July 26, 2023.

Sources: Pentagon FLIR release (April 2020); House Oversight Committee testimony (July 26, 2023); USS Princeton deck logs.

January 2015

“Gimbal” Incident — U.S. East Coast

Navy fighter jet crews operating off the U.S. East Coast recorded an infrared video showing a rotating, capsule-shaped object. The footage, captured from an F/A-18 Super Hornet’s ATFLIR pod, shows the object appearing to rotate against the wind with no visible propulsion or exhaust. Pilots on the audio track express surprise at the object’s behaviour. The video was one of three officially released by the Pentagon in April 2020 and was cited in the June 2021 ODNI preliminary assessment on UAP.

Sources: Pentagon official release (April 2020); ODNI Preliminary Assessment (June 2021).

January 2015

“GoFast” Incident — U.S. East Coast

A second infrared video from the same period of East Coast encounters shows a small, spherical object moving rapidly at low altitude over the ocean. The ATFLIR tracking data and pilot commentary suggest the object had no visible wings, engine, or exhaust. The video was officially released alongside the Gimbal and FLIR1 (Nimitz) footage by the Pentagon in April 2020.

Sources: Pentagon official release (April 2020); ODNI Preliminary Assessment (June 2021).

April 25, 2013

Aguadilla, Puerto Rico — Infrared Tracking by U.S. Customs and Border Protection

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection DHC-8 aircraft captured infrared video of an unknown object near Rafael Hernandez Airport in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The footage, recorded by the aircraft’s thermal imaging system, shows a dark object moving at estimated speeds of 80–120 mph before appearing to enter the ocean without deceleration and re-emerge. The video was obtained through a Freedom of Information request.

The Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies (SCU) published a detailed analysis of the footage, estimating the object’s speed, trajectory, and apparent transmedium capability. The case is notable for involving a federal law enforcement sensor system rather than military assets.

Sources: FOIA-released CBP video; SCU technical analysis report.

November 7, 2006

O’Hare International Airport Disc — Chicago, Illinois

Multiple United Airlines employees, including ramp workers and at least one pilot, observed a dark, disc-shaped object hovering below the cloud layer over Gate C17 at O’Hare International Airport. Witnesses reported the object remained stationary for several minutes before accelerating vertically through the overcast cloud layer, leaving a visible hole in the clouds.

The Federal Aviation Administration initially stated it had no record of the event but later acknowledged receiving a report after a FOIA request by the Chicago Tribune revealed internal communications. No radar data was publicly released.

Sources: Chicago Tribune investigation (January 2007); FAA FOIA documents; NARCAP Technical Report 10.

March 1997

Phoenix Lights — Phoenix, Arizona

On the evening of March 13, 1997, thousands of residents across a 300-mile corridor from Nevada to Tucson reported two distinct phenomena: a V-shaped formation of lights moving silently overhead, and a series of stationary lights appearing over the Phoenix metropolitan area. Witnesses included the Governor of Arizona, Fife Symington III, who confirmed his observation publicly in 2007.

The U.S. Air Force attributed the second set of lights to flares dropped during a training exercise at the Barry Goldwater Range. The first phenomenon — the V-shaped formation — has not been officially explained.

Sources: Arizona Republic archives (March 1997); Governor Symington public statement (2007); USAF public affairs statement.

1989–1990

Belgian UFO Wave — Belgium

Between November 1989 and April 1990, hundreds of reports of large, silent, triangular objects with bright lights were filed across Belgium. On March 30–31, 1990, the Belgian Air Force scrambled two F-16 fighters after ground radar and police reports confirmed the presence of unknown objects. The F-16s achieved multiple radar lock-ons, but the objects accelerated beyond pursuit capability.

Major General Wilfried De Brouwer of the Belgian Air Force held a public press conference presenting the radar data and stating that the objects could not be attributed to any known aircraft.

Sources: Belgian Air Force press conference (July 1990); Major General De Brouwer public statements; SOBEPS investigation reports.

December 1980

Rendlesham Forest Incident — Suffolk, England

Over consecutive nights in late December 1980, U.S. Air Force personnel stationed at RAF Woodbridge and RAF Bentwaters in Suffolk reported encounters with unidentified lights and a craft in Rendlesham Forest. Deputy Base Commander Lieutenant Colonel Charles Halt led an investigation team on the second night and recorded his observations on an audio cassette while in the field.

Halt’s official memorandum to the UK Ministry of Defence, dated January 13, 1981, described unexplained lights, elevated radiation readings at the landing site, and impressions in the ground. The Halt memo and associated MoD files were released under Freedom of Information.

Sources: Lt. Col. Halt memorandum to MoD (January 13, 1981); UK National Archives released files; Halt audio recording.

This timeline is maintained as a living reference and will be updated periodically as new cases meeting the editorial standards are documented.