What were the Phoenix Lights? Why the UFO phenomenon is still a mystery 27 years later
As the 27th anniversary of the Phoenix Lights approaches, the puzzling occurrence continues to captivate the public imagination, and it remains shrouded in controversy and conspiracy for many.
On March 13, 1997, thousands of witnesses reported seeing a series of mysterious lights forming a distinct V-shaped pattern in the night sky over Arizona.
Despite attempts by the U.S. Air Force to attribute the phenomenon to military flares, skepticism persists among those who question the official explanation. The enduring mystery of the Phoenix Lights has fueled speculation about the possibility of extraterrestrial visitors or clandestine government activities.
As the anniversary nears, one can't help but wonder: Were the Phoenix Lights merely a product of misidentification and coincidence, or did they signify something more profound and otherworldly?
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What were the Phoenix Lights?
The Phoenix Lights are a series of widely reported unidentified flying objects seen in the night sky over Arizona, Nevada and the Mexican state of Sonora on March 13, 1997. Thousands of people reported witnessing a triangular formation of lights moving silently across the sky. The lights were described as bright, steady and in a V-shaped or boomerang formation.
The Phoenix Lights are divided into two distinct sightings:
First Sighting (7:30-8:45 p.m.): Although the exact time is unknown, witnesses reported seeing a formation of lights moving from the northern part of Arizona southward toward Tucson. The lights were described as a series of orbs or a solid object with a row of lights.
Second Sighting (10-10:30 p.m.): Later that night, a more significant and widely observed event occurred when a large V-shaped formation of lights passed over the Phoenix metropolitan area. The lights appeared to be connected to or part of a massive object. This sighting was captured on video by some witnesses.
The Phoenix Lights gained international attention and the mystery surrounding them gave rise to many theories and speculations.
The official explanation provided by the U.S. Air Force later was that the lights were flares dropped by A-10 Warthog aircraft during an exercise at the Barry M. Goldwater Range, a military training range in southwestern Arizona.
This explanation was met with skepticism as many witnesses claimed the lights they saw did not resemble flares.
Alejandro Rojas is a prominent figure in UFO research and advocacy. He writes about sightings and related phenomena. Rojas also is the master of ceremonies for the annual International UFO Congress, based in Phoenix, which convenes researchers, enthusiasts and experts from around the world to discuss the latest developments in ufology.
“Sightings were tracked from there to Tucson for the next couple of hours. At least one witness north of Phoenix claimed to have looked at the lights with binoculars and saw a formation of A-10 aircraft. A military training operation called Snowbird was underway in which the A-10s were training to the south and could have been in transit.
"However, more is needed to account for the hundreds of reports from others across the state,” Rojas said of the Phoenix Lights.
More: Arizona has 4th most UFO sightings in the US. See the rankings
What does UAP mean?
According to NASA, UAP stands for Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon. It is a term used to describe any aerial object or phenomenon that cannot be readily identified or explained by conventional means.
UAP encompasses a wide range of sightings, encounters and reports of unidentified flying objects or unexplained aerial phenomena. The term UAP is often used in discussions related to UFO research, government investigations and scientific inquiries into aerial phenomena that defy conventional explanations.
Were the Phoenix Lights a hoax?
That depends on who you ask. Not everyone believes the Air Force's explanation that the Phoenix Lights were simply military flares dropped by A-10 Warthog aircraft during a training exercise.
While the military's explanation has been accepted by some, many witnesses and enthusiasts express skepticism for several reasons:
Shape and Formation: Witnesses often describe the Phoenix Lights as forming a solid triangular or V-shaped object, which doesn't align with the explanation of flares drifting in the wind.
Silent Movement: Many witnesses said the lights moved silently, without the sound typically associated with military aircraft. A 1997 article in The Arizona Republic reported that “military bases say repeatedly that they had nothing in the air."
Duration: The length of the sightings was longer than what would be expected for flares descending from an aircraft. Typically, flares used in military training exercises are visible for a few minutes to around 10 minutes. The lengthier duration reported by witnesses of the Phoenix Lights contrasts with this expectation.
Speed and Altitude: Some witnesses said the lights moved at a speed and altitude inconsistent with flares or conventional aircraft.
Variety of Testimonies: There was a large number of witnesses, including pilots, law enforcement officers and civilians, whose testimonies varied but collectively added to the mystery.
Christopher Impey is a professor of astronomy at the University of Arizona. He recalls reading reports that linked the sighting, particularly the triangular shape witnesses described, to a formation of about 10 jets flying together; the lights observed being associated with these aircraft.
“There was a second incident and the same day, I think, in the evening, which lots of people saw, and it was reported by many people and lots of photographs and that apparently was a flare drop,” said Impey.
“So it would have been quite spectacular when a squadron drops a lot of flares, which looks pretty impressive. If you're looking at it from a distance low on the horizon I'm sure there's optical effects and it looks, you know, things look like they're hovering and moving around, and simply you don't know what it is.
"So people tend to connect dots that aren't there. You know, they see something that's unfamiliar, they don't understand and that's genuinely unusual because you don't see it in an average day, week, month or even year, and then say, ‘Oh it must be aliens.’
"Well, as a scientist, that's not the first place I go. The last place I go is that it must be aliens.”
Did the military explain the Phoenix Lights?
Yes. The U.S. Air Force said the lights observed on the night of March 13, 1997, were flares dropped by A-10 Warthog airplanes at the Barry M. Goldwater Range.
The flares were part of a routine training mission, and the lights observed by witnesses were the result of these flares descending in the night sky. The Air Force maintained that the lights seen in the Phoenix area were a combination of the flares and the reflection of city lights on clouds.
We contacted Luke Air Force Base near Glendale, Arizona, for comment about the Phoenix lights. Sean Clements, chief of media relations, emailed back:
"Unfortunately, no one at the 56th Fighter Wing is going to be able to speak on this specific subject as the event happened over 26 years ago. We’re happy to discuss our modern operations or how we’re preparing pilots for the future of warfare, but we just don’t have any experts to speak toward Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena reports from the 1990s."
Impey said many reported UFO sightings can be explained as common phenomena such as weather balloons or planets. A significant number of sightings could be aircraft, including military planes, that might appear unfamiliar to observers not accustomed to seeing them in certain formations or numbers.
“Arizona has a lot of UFO sightings but it also has a lot of military bases and a lot of Air Force activity and a lot of flights and different types of aircrafts. Not everyone's familiar with those,” Impey said.
What do skeptics say about the Phoenix Lights?
Skeptics of the idea that the Phoenix Lights were UFOs offer alternative explanations that emphasize more mundane and conventional causes. These include:
Military Flares: The Air Force's explanation satisfies some UFO skeptics, who accept that characteristics reported by witnesses, such as the V-shaped formation, could be attributed to the arrangement of flares in the night sky.
Human Perception and Memory: Skeptics point out that perception and memory can be fallible. They say witnesses might have misinterpreted or exaggerated what they saw, and the collective memory of the event may have been influenced by media coverage and discussions.
Mass Hysteria: Skeptics suggest that widespread reports of the Phoenix Lights may be attributed to a form of mass hysteria or a psychological phenomenon in which people influence one another's perceptions and memories.
Misidentified Celestial Objects: Others propose that witnesses might have misidentified celestial objects or atmospheric phenomena, such as planets, stars or unusual cloud formations.
Social and Cultural Influences: Some suggest the possibility that social and cultural factors played a role in shaping the interpretation of the events. Media coverage and preexisting beliefs about UFOs may have influenced how witnesses perceived and reported the lights.
It's important to note that skepticism doesn't necessarily dismiss the experiences of witnesses but seeks to provide plausible and conventional explanations for observed phenomena. While some skeptics find the military's flare explanation plausible, others acknowledge that some aspects of the Phoenix Lights incident remain unexplained.
“We need scientific-quality data from instruments that are calibrated and under control in order to make progress about the nature of UAPs,” said Avi Loeb, Baird Professor of Science and director of the Institute for Theory and Computation at Harvard University.
“Clearly, they represent a mixed bag with lots of human-made objects. But even if one out of a million is extraterrestrial, that finding would have a huge impact on the future of humanity.
"If we find a gadget that was manufactured by a cosmic neighbor, we could learn something new about our technological future. These neighbors must be more advanced than we are because they reached our doorstep before our spacecraft got to them.”
Were there any official investigations into the Phoenix Lights?
The U.S. military conducted an investigation that produced the Air Force's explanation of military flares.
Aside from that there has been no comprehensive, independent government investigation into the Phoenix Lights.
“I think it is important for the public to understand UFOs, or UAP, the term the government is using, research and the search for extraterrestrial life are two different things,” said Rojas, the UAP writer and researcher.
“Congress has defined UAP as objects that cannot be readily identifiable and we do not know their origins. As the Pentagon and NASA have noted, there is no evidence for extraterrestrial life. However, as they have also both stated, UAP are a serious issue and deserves serious attention.
"We don't know for sure what flew over Phoenix or who is responsible and we will likely never know. We don't have enough data to work with.”
Have there been any similar sightings since the Phoenix Lights?
Since the Phoenix Lights in 1997, there have been numerous reports of UFO sightings around the world. Here are a few notable examples, according to History.com:
Chicago O'Hare UFO Sighting: In November 2006, airline employees and pilots at Chicago O'Hare International Airport reported a saucer-shaped object hovering over Gate C17. The object then reportedly shot up through the clouds, leaving a hole in the cloud cover. The incident generated media attention and discussions within the UFO community.
Stephenville Lights: In January 2008, residents of Stephenville, Texas, reported seeing strange lights and formations in the sky. Witnesses described bright lights moving at high speeds and in unusual patterns.
Jerusalem UFO Incident: In January 2011, a video surfaced showing a bright light hovering over the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. The light then appeared to shoot up into the sky. The authenticity of the video has been debated.
Phoenix Lights Anniversary Sightings: On anniversaries of the Phoenix Lights there have been reports of lights or formations in the sky, often near the Phoenix area. Some of these reports have been attributed to military exercises or other causes, and they occasionally reignite public interest in the original incident.
It's important to note that UFO sightings are reported regularly, and many turn out to have conventional explanations such as aircraft, drones, satellites or natural atmospheric phenomena. The term "UFO" itself refers to any unidentified flying object and doesn't necessarily imply an extraterrestrial origin.
“Arizona does have a lot of sightings reported. I have often found the southwest has more reports than most of the country,” said Rojas.
“If people are true believers, then they will find any reason to keep believing. We know that's how conspiracy theories persist in the absence of evidence and in contravention to the facts. So UFOs are in unfortunately in that category where some of the classic instances just are sticking,” said Impey.
Is there photographic or video evidence of the Phoenix Lights?
Numerous witnesses captured the mysterious lights on camera during the events of March 13, 1997.
Lynne Kitei is a physician and health educator who wrote a book and produced an award-winning documentary called "The Phoenix Lights." Her video footage, showcasing the V-shaped formation of lights, has been widely circulated.
Numerous eyewitnesses captured photographs of the lights using different types of cameras and news outlets including CNN, ABC News, NBC News, CBS News and Fox News covered the incident, capturing footage during their broadcasts and conducting interviews with witnesses.
Is there any new information about the Phoenix Lights?
There have been no significant developments or new information regarding the Phoenix Lights.
“There are many possible answers for the Phoenix Lights. Aliens is just one," Rojas said. "Other exotic possibilities are that it could have been a secret advanced aircraft, from the future or from another dimension.
"Of course, there are also less exciting possibilities, such as a misidentification of conventional aircraft, or a large dirigible. We have no good photos, videos or other data to be sure. Despite that, the large amount of witness testimony makes this one of the most famous UFO sightings ever.”
Are there documentaries or movies about the Phoenix Lights?
Yes. Documentaries and TV programs have explored the Phoenix Lights incident, providing examinations of the sightings, witness testimonies and various perspectives on the occurrence. Here are a few documentaries and programs related to the Phoenix Lights:
"The Phoenix Lights...We Are Not Alone" (2005): This documentary, directed by Kitei, features witness testimonies, expert interviews and footage of the Phoenix Lights. Kitei, who witnessed the Phoenix Lights, also produced and narrated the documentary. You can buy the documentary on Amazon.
"I Know What I Saw" (2009): This documentary, directed by James Fox, features firsthand accounts from individuals who have experienced UFO sightings, including the Phoenix Lights. You can see the documentary on AppleTV.
"The Phoenix Incident" (2015): This fictionalized thriller is based on the Phoenix Lights. Incorporating elements of science fiction and drawing inspiration from the events of March 13, 1997, it explores a fictional narrative surrounding the mysterious lights. You can watch the movie on Sling.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Lights UFO mystery: 27 years later, is the truth out there?
