Ex-US Officials: 'We are not alone' amid mystery drone sightings

UPDATED: Dec 25, 2024 23:14 IST

2024 has seen an uptick in UFO and mysterious drone sightings across the United States, bringing fresh attention to a long-standing debate about aerial phenomena.

Testimonies from former military officials, including Luiz Elizondo, the ex-head of the Pentagon's Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, have reignited discussions in Congress about the government's alleged suppression of information regarding extraterrestrial life, said a Fox News report.

The officials have suggested that there is a cover-up of "the fact that we are not alone in the cosmos."

Elizondo urged lawmakers to protect whistleblowers, saying, “I believe that we as Americans can handle the truth. And, I also believe the world deserves the truth.”

The Congressional hearings were part of ongoing efforts to probe unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), with lawmakers questioning whether government entities are withholding crucial evidence. Meanwhile, UFO sightings have been reported in every US state, according to the UFO Reporting Center, the largest independent archive of UFO/UAP reports.

One significant sighting occurred in October when a military-trained observer camping alone in Mountain Center, California, witnessed a strange, bright oval light hovering silently at treetop level. Describing the event, the witness said the area lit up "brighter than the brightest full moon" with no heat emitted, and the light resembled a large helicopter but with no sound.

Pilots have also reported strange activity in the skies, particularly over Oregon. Several pilots spotted red circular lights zipping through the sky, leading one United Airlines pilot to contact the control tower about the strange lights over western Oregon.

These recent reports come amid rising concerns over drone activity in US skies, particularly in New Jersey. Following multiple sightings, the FBI and state officials have urged the public to report any information regarding possible drone activity along the Raritan River. In response, the Federal Aviation Administration imposed temporary flight restrictions in New Jersey, effective until January 2025, prohibiting drone flights in certain areas, except for specific government and emergency operations.

Despite the growing number of sightings, White House Security Communications Adviser John Kirby has stated that the mysterious drones flying across the country are "legal" and "lawful." A joint statement from multiple agencies, including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Aviation Administration, reassured the public that there is no evidence linking the drones to any national security threats.