15 UFO Cases Confirmed by Governments

Across decades of aviation reports, military briefings, and declassified government files, a number of UFO encounters have been publicly acknowledged as legitimate unidentified phenomena rather than hoaxes or misidentified aircraft. These cases don’t confirm extraterrestrial origins, but they do show that multiple governments have admitted they captured objects or events on radar, video, or eyewitness testimony that remain unexplained after official analysis. Many reports involve unusual flight characteristics, sudden acceleration, or behavior that doesn’t match known aircraft technology. By examining these confirmed cases, we see how even the world’s most advanced militaries struggle to explain certain events in the sky, raising questions about what operates above us—and why so many incidents remain unresolved.

1. 1. The 2004 “Tic Tac” Encounter (United States)

The U.S. Navy’s 2004 “Tic Tac” incident became one of the most widely discussed UFO cases after the Pentagon confirmed the footage as genuine and officially classified it as an unidentified aerial phenomenon. Navy pilots described an object with no visible engines or wings, capable of rapid acceleration and sudden directional changes far beyond known aircraft performance. Radar operators tracked the craft performing movements that seemed to defy inertia, repeatedly dropping from high altitude to sea level in seconds. Despite multiple sensor confirmations and trained eyewitnesses, the U.S. government ultimately stated that the object remains unexplained.

2. 2. The 2015 “Gimbal” UAP Footage (United States)

The “Gimbal” video, released through official Department of Defense channels, shows a rotating craft captured by a Navy fighter’s infrared camera performing controlled maneuvers despite lacking any visible propulsion. Navy aviators commented during the recording that the object seemed to defy aerodynamic expectations, maintaining stability while rotating in a way no known aircraft could replicate. The Pentagon later confirmed the video’s authenticity and acknowledged that the object remains unidentified after technical analysis. Its combination of sensor data, experienced observers, and official validation makes it one of the most credible modern UAP cases.

3. 3. The 2015 “GoFast” UAP Footage (United States)

In the “GoFast” video, Navy pilots tracked a fast-moving object skimming above the ocean at high speed, yet analysis showed it had no wings, no exhaust trail, and no clear thermal signature. The craft’s acceleration and altitude shifts confused pilots who attempted to lock onto it with targeting sensors but struggled to maintain stable tracking. The Pentagon confirmed the authenticity of the video and categorized it as an unresolved UAP, noting that it could not be attributed to drones or conventional aircraft. Its strange motion and multi-sensor verification make it a significant entry in official UAP files.

4. 4. The 1980 Rendlesham Forest Incident (United Kingdom)

The UK Ministry of Defence acknowledged that U.S. Air Force personnel stationed at RAF Bentwaters reported witnessing a series of unexplained lights and a possible landed craft over several nights in late December 1980. Military police recorded ground impressions, radiation readings slightly above background levels, and detailed witness statements describing metallic lights that moved through the forest. Although the MOD concluded the event posed no threat to national security, it never offered an official explanation for the sightings or physical traces. The case remains one of the most well-documented European military UFO encounters.

5. 5. The 1976 Tehran UFO Intercept (Iran, documented by the U.S.)

In September 1976, Iranian fighter jets attempted to intercept a bright object that military radar detected over Tehran, and U.S. intelligence later confirmed the event in declassified documents. Pilots reported instrumentation failure, weapons systems shutting down, and communication disruptions when they approached the object, only for their controls to return once they retreated. Multiple witnesses on the ground described a luminous craft releasing smaller lights that moved independently. Because radar, aviation logs, and official reports corroborated the event, it remains one of the most detailed UFO cases acknowledged by both Iranian authorities and U.S. intelligence agencies.

6. 6. The 1986 Japan Airlines Flight 1628 Encounter (United States/Japan)

In 1986, a Japan Airlines cargo crew reported a massive illuminated object pacing their aircraft over Alaska, and the FAA later confirmed radar returns matching the pilots’ descriptions. The crew described the object as larger than an aircraft carrier, with lights that shifted color and intensity as it maneuvered around their Boeing 747. FAA officials and military radar operators reviewed the incident and acknowledged that the radar signatures did not match any known aircraft or weather phenomena. The encounter remains officially classified as unexplained, with both Japanese and U.S. authorities unable to produce a definitive cause despite extensive documentation.

7. 7. The 1990 Belgium Wave (Belgian Air Force)

Between 1989 and 1990, the Belgian Air Force investigated dozens of sightings of large triangular craft witnessed by police officers, citizens, and military personnel, with radar data confirming unusual aerial movements. Fighter jets were scrambled, but the objects reportedly accelerated and changed altitude faster than the aircraft could track, performing maneuvers outside known aviation capabilities. The Belgian government publicly acknowledged the wave and cooperated with civilian researchers, releasing radar logs and witness reports. Despite the rare transparency of the investigation, officials concluded that no aircraft—domestic or foreign—matched the events observed over those months.

8. 8. The 2007 Alderney Sighting (United Kingdom)

In 2007, two airline pilots flying near Alderney in the Channel Islands reported seeing large, glowing, stationary craft hovering above the sea, and the UK Civil Aviation Authority formally logged the incident. Passengers also witnessed the objects, describing them as massive, silent shapes emitting bright light without any visible propulsion. Radar from a nearby station detected unknown returns in the same region, although controllers could not identify the source. With multiple professional eyewitnesses and independent radar support, the event remains officially listed as an unidentified occurrence.

9. 9. The 1952 Washington, D.C. UFO Wave (United States)

In the summer of 1952, radar operators, pilots, and ground personnel observed unidentified objects repeatedly appearing over Washington, D.C., causing one of the largest military mobilizations in U.S. airspace history. Jets scrambled to intercept, yet objects reportedly vanished from radar only to reappear moments later in new positions, performing sudden accelerations inconsistent with known aircraft. The Air Force held unprecedented press conferences and admitted that radar and visual sightings could not be fully explained by temperature inversions alone. The incident remains one of the most public and officially documented mass radar sightings of unidentified aerial objects in U.S. history.

10. 10. The 1973 Coyne Helicopter Encounter (United States)

In 1973, an Army Reserve helicopter crew near Mansfield, Ohio, reported an illuminated object that approached their aircraft and caused dramatic altitude changes without pilot input. The crew stated that their helicopter climbed sharply after the object emitted a green light, despite controls being set for descent. FAA officials and the U.S. Army investigated the incident, and although no definitive explanation was reached, the event was formally documented and left unresolved. Multiple witnesses on the ground confirmed seeing the object, making it one of the more compelling publicly acknowledged encounters involving a military aircraft.

11. 11. The 1967 Shag Harbour Incident (Canada)

The Shag Harbour incident began when multiple witnesses, including police officers, reported a glowing object descending into the water off the coast of Nova Scotia, prompting an official search-and-rescue response. Canadian authorities treated the event as a potential aircraft crash, yet no debris, missing planes, or distress calls were ever found despite extensive underwater searches. The Royal Canadian Navy and Coast Guard formally logged the incident as an unidentified object after divers reported no wreckage but confirmed a clearly visible impact site. Because it involved a coordinated government response and no plausible explanation, it remains one of Canada’s most thoroughly documented unexplained cases.

12. 12. The 1966 Westall Incident (Australia)

The Westall incident involved more than 200 students and teachers who reported seeing a metallic disc-shaped craft hovering and landing in a field near Melbourne, prompting an investigation by Australian authorities. Witnesses described uniformed officials arriving quickly, cordoning off the area, and examining a circular impression left in the ground shortly before instructing students not to discuss the event. Although the Victorian government never offered a formal explanation, officials acknowledged that reports were filed and logged by multiple agencies. The scale of the witnesses and the lack of any confirmed earthly cause have cemented Westall as Australia’s most enduring officially noted UFO mystery.

13. 13. The 1954 Florence Stadium Flyover (Italy)

During a football match in Florence, tens of thousands of spectators witnessed multiple unidentified objects gliding silently over the stadium, prompting officials to halt the game. Italian Air Force investigators reviewed eyewitness accounts, collected samples of falling “angel hair,” and acknowledged that the objects did not match known aircraft. While some samples disintegrated before analysis, the event was formally documented due to the sheer volume of witnesses and the unusual airborne behavior. Despite decades of speculation, the Italian government never issued a conclusive explanation, leaving the case officially unresolved.

14. 14. The 2008 Stephenville Lights (United States)

Residents and pilots around Stephenville, Texas, reported a large, silent craft moving at extraordinary speeds, and the U.S. military later confirmed radar recordings of unknown objects in the area. Witnesses described lights that maneuvered with precision, accelerated suddenly, and appeared to evade aircraft sent to investigate. After public pressure, the Air Force released radar logs showing returns that did not correspond to any scheduled flights or known aircraft. Even with official data supporting the sightings, the government classified the objects as unidentified, adding another unresolved event to the growing list of credible UFO encounters.

15. 15. The Chilean Navy Infrared UFO Video (2014)

The Chilean Navy released infrared footage of a craft emitting hot gases while flying steadily over the ocean, yet radar stations failed to detect any aircraft matching its position or altitude. Analysts from the government’s CEFAA investigative committee ruled out drones, airplanes, birds, and atmospheric reflections after extensive study. The video showed the object performing coordinated movements and releasing materials that did not behave like conventional exhaust or contrails. With multiple experts unable to identify the craft, Chile formally classified the case as a genuine unknown, making it one of the world’s most credible government-confirmed UAP events.

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