Claim · E-030
Luis Elizondo: Describes the object in the GOFAST video as rounded, smooth and egg-shaped and disputes the estimates that put it as slow-moving, because the pilots were astonished by its speed.
Luis Elizondo · Aug 20, 2024 · Book “Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs” (HarperCollins, August 20, 2024) (Book)
Opinion or hypothesis Sightings, video, sensors
Contradicted
The geometric analysis of the data shown on screen in the official video (Mick West) indicates a slow object, probably a balloon, and the object measures about 8 pixels, too few to establish its shape; on November 19, 2024, AARO estimated with high confidence that the object was flying at about 13,000 feet and that the apparent speed was a parallax effect.
- In support
- The Navy classifies the object as an unidentified aerial phenomenon; the UAP Files blog (favorable) defends the value of the pilots' testimony.
- Against or denials
- Mick West (Metabunk): parallax and the onboard data indicate slow motion, consistent with a balloon; Daniel Lavelle (Chasing Aliens, 2026, cited by Wikipedia) writes that grade-school geometry was enough to understand that it was not moving fast.
Sources
- Metabunk (Mick West) – “Errors in Imminent”, August 23, 2024 (analysis, skeptical)
- UAP Files (Substack) – reply to Mick West's analyses, August 27, 2024 (analysis, pro-disclosure)
- Wikipedia – “Luis Elizondo” (used as a cross-reference to the sources cited) (other)
- DefenseScoop: the AARO analyses of GOFAST and Puerto Rico presented to the Senate (November 19, 2024) (press)
On this site
People 1
Claims 1
Inconsistencies 1
Cases 1
- GOFAST video: according to AARO the object was at 13,000 feet and slow, not skimming the water Explained
Open in the interactive archive The whole section: Claims
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