Summary in seconds: the Tic Tac incident, the New York Times joins the Military in changing our perception of UFOs, whistleblowers spell the beans in a congressional hearing, from searching for green aliens to looking for the “signatures of life”, the topic of my next article of this series.
On November 14, 2004, U.S. Navy pilot Alex Dietrich and her commanding officer David Fravor were conducting routine training off the southern California coast when they were directed to investigate an enigmatic unidentified flying object (UFO). What they encountered was a 40-foot “Tic Tac” shaped craft hovering over the water’s surface in an inexplicable manner.1 Subsequently, more fighter jets were dispatched from the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier to observe this strange phenomenon, and they captured it on infra-red camera.2 These recordings, collectively known as the “Pentagon UFO videos,” marked a pivotal moment in how UFOs are perceived in America. In 2017, the New York Times published an article featuring leaked military footage of these incidents, causing a significant shift in public opinion. The credibility of the New York Times and the U.S. military lent newfound seriousness to a topic that had long been ridiculed in American pop culture since the 1947 Roswell Incident.3
On Wednesday, July 26, 2023, three former military officials testified before a House Oversight subcommittee, expressing their belief that the government possesses more information about UFOs, known officially as Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs), than it shares with the public. They detailed mystifying accounts of unexplained sightings and even suggested the existence of “nonhuman” biological material related to these incidents. Lawmakers, recognizing the bipartisan concern and national security implications, raised questions about the government’s transparency regarding UAPs. They noted the need for a clear and transparent reporting process for UAP sightings, both within the military and among commercial pilots.4
One of the witnesses, David Grusch, a former U.S. intelligence official, claimed that the government unequivocally possesses UAPs and mentioned a Pentagon program dedicated to analyzing reported UAP sightings and recovering crashed UAPs, which he asserted was funded outside of congressional oversight. Grusch also mentioned the discovery of “nonhuman biologics” from crashed UAPs, emphasizing that the term “nonhuman” was preferred over “alien” or “extraterrestrial.” However, Pentagon spokespersons contradicted Grusch’s assertions, calling them false.
The witnesses and lawmakers urged the establishment of a transparent reporting process for UAPs to encourage pilots, both civilian and military, to report sightings without fear of stigma or repercussions. They argued that the current stigma surrounding UAP reports hampers efforts to investigate these phenomena. Additionally, they highlighted the need for transparency to address contradictions in government statements regarding UAPs. One former Navy pilot, Ryan Graves, emphasized the importance of pilots feeling adequately informed about UAPs to respond effectively.
Finally, David Fravor, a former Navy commander, recounted a compelling personal experience in 2004 when he and fellow military pilots encountered a Tic-Tac-shaped object with extraordinary capabilities, including rapid acceleration to “supersonic speeds.” This sighting left them baffled, as the technology seemed far beyond anything they understood. These testimonies underscored the need for a more open and comprehensive examination of UAPs, emphasizing the potential implications for national security and the curiosity surrounding these mysterious phenomena.
The quest to discover life beyond Earth captivates our collective curiosity for various reasons. Some see it as a potential unifier, a way to transcend our differences as humans, while others envision advanced extraterrestrial beings as a source of enlightenment and opportunities for a brighter future. Amid this intrigue, a common question persists: “What are those mysterious lights in the night sky?” Recent strides in science and technology have expanded our search for extraterrestrial life. Rather than confining themselves to seeking electromagnetic signals from intelligent beings, scientists now explore “life signatures” that could indicate the presence of alien life. This modern approach encompasses not only the traditional technological markers but also nine additional domains of scientific research, broadening the scope of our cosmic exploration.
In the upcoming article of the “Is There Life Beyond Earth?” series, I will delve into the topic of the signs that indicate the presence of extraterrestrial life, known as “the signature of life.”
References:
1. ‘Our fascination is rooted in hope’: why we’re so obsessed with UFOs
By Veronica Esposito. The Guardian, Tue 17 Aug 2021 02.02 EDT
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/aug/17/ufo-jj-abrams-docseries-showtime
2. ‘Normalizing’ UFOs – retired U.S. Navy pilot recalls Tic Tac encounter
By Pavithra George. Reuters, June 25, 202112:22 AM EDT- Last updated a year ago
3. Roswell Incident: is the 1947 recovery of balloon debris from a ranch near Corona, New Mexico by United States Army Air Forces officers from Roswell Army Air Field, and the conspiracy theories, decades later, claiming that the debris involved a flying saucer and that the truth had been covered up by the United States government.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roswell_incident
4. Here are the 5 most memorable moments from Congress’ UFO hearing: Former military officials made a series of mystifying claims about unidentified aerial phenomena under oath at Wednesday’s congressional hearing. By Michael Mitsanas – July 26, 2023.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/are-5-memorable-moments-congress-ufo-hearing-rcna96476