Case · C-089
Western United States: five infrared lights were airliners
Military airspace in the western United States (location not disclosed; position on the map is indicative) · United States · 2021
In flight Military witnesses Video
Explained
- What happened
- In 2021 military personnel reported five equidistant lights, captured by an infrared sensor, that seemed to violate restricted military airspace in the western United States, between 20,000 and 40,000 feet. In the case resolution report of May 8, 2023, released in December 2023, AARO concluded that the objects were much farther away than estimated by the observers and matched airliners transiting between the region's major airports. The exact date and location have not been made public.
- Proposed explanation
- According to AARO, with independent confirmation from its partners, the lights were almost certainly airliners on known routes up to 300 nautical miles from the sensor; the apparent shape changes were due to vibrations and autofocus of the sensor.
- Official investigation
- AARO (Department of Defense) with intelligence and science and technology partners
- Words of the document
almost certainly commercial aircraft travelling on well-established air corridors
Official documents
- Case: «Western United States» – Case Resolution · AARO, Department of Defense (The Black Vault copy) · May 8, 2023
Sources
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