UFO witness accounts in the U.S.: From the Kenneth Arnold sighting to the Chicago O’Hare sighting
Most reported UFOs are ultimately identified as known objects or atmospheric phenomena. For others, though, there is no explanation.
You don’t necessarily have to believe in life on another planet to acknowledge the existence of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), most of which, contrary to popular belief, are ultimately identified as known objects or atmospheric phenomena. A very small percentage, however, remain unexplained after investigation, driving conspiracy theories that the aliens are indeed coming for us.
The term ‘unidentified flying object’ was coined in the 1940s as an upgrade of sorts on ‘flying saucers,’ which the United States Air Force (USAF) had originally used to describe unknown objects in the sky before discovering they were not all saucer-like in shape.
UFO witness accounts in the United States
The Kenneth Arnold Sighting (1947, Mount Rainier, Washington)
The term ‘flying saucer’ was first adopted after private pilot Kenneth Arnold’s description of nine unknown objects zooming past Mount Rainier in Washington. Arnold claimed the formation was “like a saucer if you skip it across water.” The start of the modern UFO fascination in the U.S.
The Maury Island Incident (1947, Puget Sound, Washington)
Witnesses claim they saw several flying discs release strange materials, with one claiming he was later contacted by “men in black” and warned to stay silent. An extra element to what became a classic UFO stereotype.
The Roswell Incident (1947, Roswell, New Mexico)
Debris discovered near Roswell in New Mexico was originally claimed to have been from a ‘flying disc,’ but was ultimately reported to be from a weather balloon by the U.S. military. Despite the official explanation, the Roswell Incident, coming just a month after the Kenneth Arnold Sighting and Maury Island Incident, meant UFO conspiracy theories grew significantly.
The Chiles-Whitted Encounter (1948, Alabama)
Clarence Chiles and John Whitted, two commercial airline pilots, claimed the plane they were flying almost collided into a glowing, cigar-shaped object while flying over Alabama. Many subsequent UFO investigations were influenced by this near miss, one of the first high-profile airline UFO sightings in the U.S.
The Washington D.C. UFO Incident (1952)
Unlike other incidents, which typically had a single witness or small number of witnesses, numerous pilots and air traffic controllers reported seeing bright, fast-moving objects moving above restricted airspace in Washington D.C. A major Air Force investigation followed but didn’t get to the bottom of the phenomenon, although the incident did play an important role in highlighting national security vulnerabilities.
The Levelland UFO Case (1957, Levelland, Texas)
One of the best-known examples of UFOs allegedly interfering with machinery. Several motorists driving near Levelland in Texas reported their vehicles having sudden engine failure and electrical issues as glowing UFOs approached.
The Socorro Encounter (1964, Socorro, New Mexico)
A police officer by the name of Lonnie Zamora claimed to have seen an egg-shaped object and two human-like figures on the ground near Socorro in New Mexico. Zamora alleges the aircraft took off, accompanied by an orange and blue flame, as he approached, leaving behind markings in the earth.
The Phoenix Lights (1997, Phoenix, Arizona)
Thousands of people reported seeing a formation of mysterious lights moving over Phoenix, making it one of the largest mass UFO sightings in modern history.
The Chicago O’Hare Sighting (2006, Chicago, Illinois)
United Airlines pilots and employees alleged to have seen a disc-shaped object hovering above a runway at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. It then supposedly took off into the air, leaving a hole in the clouds.
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