15 Most Convincing Alien Sightings in the US

From post-war pilot encounters to modern military videos, the United States has produced a long run of headline-grabbing UFO cases that blend eyewitness reports, radar returns, photos, and official inquiries. Below are fifteen of the most talked-about incidents, with where and when they happened, who reported them, what was recorded, and how investigators responded.

Kenneth Arnold Sighting (Washington, 1947)

On June 24, 1947, private pilot Kenneth Arnold reported nine boomerang-shaped objects flying past Mount Rainier at extraordinary speed. He estimated their speed by timing their transit between peaks, later coining the phrase “flying saucers” via press coverage. The sighting prompted a wave of similar reports across the country that summer. The U.S. Air Force took statements and archived the case in early UFO files.

Roswell Incident (New Mexico, 1947)

In early July 1947, debris recovered from a ranch near Roswell led the local Army Air Field to issue and then retract a press release about a “flying disc.” The military ultimately described the debris as belonging to a weather balloon, later tied to Project Mogul, a high-altitude surveillance effort. Archival documents, photographs, and interviews with personnel have been examined repeatedly by researchers. The site and museum in Roswell continue to preserve records and exhibits related to the case.

McMinnville Photographs (Oregon, 1950)

On May 11, 1950, Paul and Evelyn Trent captured two widely circulated photographs of a disc-like object near their farm outside McMinnville. The negatives and prints were examined by photo analysts over the decades, noting consistent lighting and grain patterns. The images appeared in regional newspapers and national magazines, bringing broad attention to the case. The town hosts an annual UFO festival that keeps the photographs and documentation in public view.

Lubbock Lights (Texas, 1951)

Beginning in late August 1951, multiple witnesses in Lubbock reported V-shaped formations of lights passing silently overhead. Texas Tech professors documented several passes and students captured photographs showing arcs of luminous objects. Project Blue Book collected testimony and evaluated possible explanations, including birds reflecting city lights and atmospheric phenomena. The original photos and interviews remain part of UFO case literature and archives.

Washington, D.C., UFO Flap (District of Columbia, 1952)

In July 1952, air traffic controllers at National Airport and Andrews AFB reported multiple radar targets maneuvering over restricted airspace on two consecutive weekends. Interceptor pilots were scrambled, and radar-visual correlations were logged in official records. The Air Force held a major press conference, attributing many returns to temperature inversions affecting radar. Controller logs, pilot statements, and newspaper coverage provide a detailed timeline of events.

Flatwoods Monster (West Virginia, 1952)

On September 12, 1952, residents near Flatwoods reported a glowing object descending on a hillside, followed by encounters with a tall figure and a pungent odor. Local authorities documented tracks and an area of singed vegetation. Contemporary investigators considered explanations ranging from a meteor to misidentified wildlife and searchlights. The incident’s artifacts and testimonies are preserved in local historical displays and interviews.

Levelland Vehicle Interference (Texas, 1957)

During the night of November 2–3, 1957, motorists near Levelland reported that their vehicles’ engines and lights failed as a bright object approached and then restarted as it departed. Local law enforcement compiled multiple independent reports along a roughly consistent route. Project Blue Book examined the case, noting weather conditions and potential electrical explanations. Patrol logs and witness statements form the core of the documentation.

Socorro Sighting (New Mexico, 1964)

On April 24, 1964, police officer Lonnie Zamora reported a shiny, egg-shaped object on landing legs and two small figures near Socorro. He observed a blast of flame and a roaring sound as the craft lifted off, later finding landing depressions and scorched brush. Investigators, including Project Blue Book consultants, photographed physical traces and took measurements on site. The case file includes sketches, soil observations, and interviews conducted shortly after the event.

Exeter Incident (New Hampshire, 1965)

In the pre-dawn hours of September 3, 1965, a teenager and two police officers near Exeter reported a large, silent object with intense red lights moving at low altitude. Officers provided formal statements and mapped the object’s path relative to landmarks. Investigations considered aircraft, aerial refueling lights, and advertising planes, but records note the low altitude and recurring pattern. The case remains thoroughly documented through police reports and correspondence.

Kecksburg Incident (Pennsylvania, 1965)

On December 9, 1965, witnesses across several states observed a fireball, with reports of a metallic, acorn-shaped object coming down near Kecksburg. Local residents described a cordoned-off area and the presence of military personnel that evening. Official records identified the event as a meteor, while other documents and testimony describe a brief recovery operation. Newspaper archives, radio broadcasts, and affidavits preserve the timeline and witness accounts.

Malmstrom AFB Reports (Montana, 1967)

Air Force personnel connected to Malmstrom AFB later reported unusual aerial activity coinciding with missile system disruptions at sites in March 1967. Statements collected years afterward outline lighted objects observed near facilities and subsequent technical anomalies. Declassified documents, maintenance logs, and testimony have been examined by researchers for correlations. The incident is frequently cited in discussions of military-adjacent UFO reporting.

Pascagoula Abduction (Mississippi, 1973)

On October 11, 1973, two men in Pascagoula reported being taken aboard a craft by unusual beings and later contacted authorities. Law enforcement recorded their statements, including a taped conversation captured when the men were left alone. Medical examinations and polygraph tests were documented in the following days. The case file includes police reports, press coverage, and interview transcripts.

Travis Walton Case (Arizona, 1975)

On November 5, 1975, logger Travis Walton disappeared near Snowflake after coworkers reported a bright object in the forest; he reappeared five days later. Police reports, missing-person notices, and interviews with the crew were compiled during the search. Subsequent polygraph tests, media appearances, and book publications created an extensive paper trail. The case remains one of the most referenced abduction reports in U.S. records.

Phoenix Lights (Arizona, 1997)

On March 13, 1997, thousands across Arizona observed a series of lights and a large, V-shaped formation moving silently across the state. Calls to law enforcement and air traffic control created a time-stamped chain of observations from north to south. The U.S. military later identified part of the event as training flares near the Barry M. Goldwater Range, while earlier formation reports were logged separately. Witness maps, videos, and official statements outline the night’s sequence.

O’Hare International Airport UFO (Illinois, 2006)

On November 7, 2006, airline employees and pilots at Chicago O’Hare reported a metallic, saucer-shaped object hovering above Gate C-17 that shot upward through the overcast. Federal authorities noted the absence of a correlated radar return while the airport generated internal incident memos. Aviation logs, weather data, and witness interviews were collected by journalists through document requests. The event is preserved in news archives and compilations of aviation-related UFO reports.

Share which cases you find most compelling in the comments and tell us why!