The Pentagon began releasing “never-before-seen” files on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), formerly known as UFOs, on Friday, a move that has ignited global speculation, sending UFO enthusiasts into a frenzy, according to NBC News.
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Released as per Donald Trump’s directive, these declassified documents, spanning decades and detailing over 400 global incidents, are now accessible on the government site https://www.war.gov/UFO/, with more to follow on a rolling basis, according to BBC.
The initial released batch that included more than 160 files from agencies like the FBI, NASA, and Department of Defense, featured 120 PDFs, 28 videos, and 14 images of grainy infrared footage and indistinct lights or shapes.
Though there is still no evidence pointing to extraterrestrial contact or government cover-ups, many cases remain unresolved due to insufficient data.
The Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE) oversees this effort, emphasising public access without clearance.
Files have since highlighted astronaut reports from NASA’s Apollo era. For instance, Buzz Aldrin described “little flashes” during Apollo 11 in 1969, initially linked to possible lasers, while Alan Bean noted “flashes of light” on Apollo 12.
The Apollo 17 crew, that included Harrison Schmitt, observed “bright particles” tumbling like “the Fourth of July,” with photos showing triangular dots when magnified.
Another 1948 sighting over the Netherlands, which was of an accelerating ‘unknown’ object was later identified as a rocket-assisted jet.
Gemini 7’s Frank Borman reported a “bogey” as “hundreds of little particles” in 1965. Recent cases have included 2024 infrared videos from U.S, Indo-Pacific and Northern Commands, plus a 2023 redacted FBI report of a metallic, wingless object brighter than a drone near a certain test site.
With the United States’ President, Trump previewing the release last month, he had promised “very interesting documents,” following his February order to review alien-related files.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has come forth to praise the transparency push on X, “I applaud president trump’s full of government effort to bring greater transparency to the American people on unidentified anomalous phenomena. We will remain candid about what we know to be true. What we have yet to understand in all that remains to be discovered”.
