U.S. gov’t cites over 140 UFO reports, but leaves most unexplained

U.S. gov’t cites over 140 UFO reports, but leaves most unexplained

The U.S. government said more than 140 reports of mysterious flying objects have been collected since 2004 from military pilots and other sources, but it failed to offer concrete explanations for most of the instances in a so-called UFO report released Friday.

The preliminary assessment of “unidentified aerial phenomena” cited 144 reports originating from U.S. government sources, of which only one case was identified as a balloon. It did not mention whether the UFOs could be of extraterrestrial origin.

Screenshot of a video clip released by the U.S. Defense Department. (Kyodo)

“Limited data leaves most UAP unexplained,” the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said in its 9-page unclassified report.

A task force set up in the Defense Department reviewed the incidents, focusing on reports of such phenomena observed firsthand by military members, including the Navy, and that were collected from systems deemed reliable.

In 18 incidents, described in 21 reports, observers reported “unusual UAP movement patterns or flight characteristics,” the office said.

Some appeared to “move against the wind, maneuver abruptly, or move at considerable speed, without discernable means of propulsion.”

The office said such observations could be the result of sensor errors or observer misperceptions that would require further analysis.

Noting the difficulty of providing a single explanation for the multiple types of phenomena, the office came up with “five potential explanatory categories” including airborne clutter including birds, balloons, and recreational unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as natural atmospheric phenomena such as ice crystals.

The office also said some objects could be linked to classified programs by the U.S. government or companies. But it added that it was not able to confirm that any of the collected reports fell into the third explanatory category.

The fourth category covered technologies deployed by foreign adversaries such as China, Russia, while the fifth referred to as “other” groups cases that are expected to be better understood through scientific advances.

The sole case identified in the preliminary assessment with “high confidence” was “a large, deflating balloon,” the office said.

At the same time, the office warned that such unknown objects not only pose flight safety issues but may also serve as a challenge to U.S. national security.

“UAP would also represent a national security challenge if they are foreign adversary collection platforms or provide evidence a potential adversary has developed either a breakthrough or disruptive technology,” it said.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks stressed in a memorandum that it is critical that all U.S. military aircrews and government personnel report whenever aircraft or other devices interfere with military training, including UAPs.

As part of efforts to improve the U.S. ability to understand unidentified objects, the Defense Department will seek to “formalize” the mission currently performed by the task force that has reviewed the issue, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.

Title: U.S. gov't cites over 140 UFO reports, but leaves most unexplained
Sourced From: english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/06/6746803dd33a-us-govt-has-no-explanation-for-most-reported-ufo-activity.html
Published Date: 06/26/21

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Sandra Gutierrez

Sandra T. Gutierrez joins us in January 2021. She has previously worked for different magazines. Sandra covers emerging developments and trending technology-related stories from Japan.

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