On the evening of March 13, 1997, thousands of residents across Arizona, particularly in the Phoenix area, witnessed a stunning display of lights moving silently through the night sky. The event, now known as The Phoenix Lights, remains one of the most famous and well-documented mass UFO sightings in modern history, fueling ongoing debate about what truly happened that night.
Timeline of Events
- Initial Reports (Around 7:30 PM): A large, V-shaped formation of lights was spotted over Henderson, Nevada, traveling southeast toward Arizona.
- Over Phoenix (8:00-9:00 PM): Residents reported between five and seven bright lights arranged in a V or boomerang shape, gliding noiselessly across the sky. Witnesses ranged from ordinary citizens to local law enforcement.
- Aftermath: Calls flooded into radio stations, local news outlets and the National UFO Reporting Center, with some observers describing the lights as part of a massive, solid craft.
Witness Accounts
Many Arizonans described seeing the silent, slow-moving formation pass directly overhead, revealing what appeared to be a large, dark structure blocking out the stars behind it. Governor Fife Symington, initially skeptical, later admitted he also witnessed the event, calling it a “craft of unknown origin.” The diversity and sheer volume of eyewitness testimonies make The Phoenix Lights one of the most compelling UFO sightings to date.
Official Explanations
- Military Flares: The U.S. Air Force stated that a portion of the lights seen around 10:00 PM were flares dropped by A-10 Warthog aircraft during a training exercise at the Barry Goldwater Range.
- Misidentified Aircraft: Some skeptics claim the earlier V-shaped formation was merely a group of airplanes flying in loose formation.
These official statements did little to satisfy many of the witnesses, who insist the lights they saw were not conventional aircraft or flares.
Theories and Debate
- Extraterrestrial Craft: Believers argue the V-shaped object was an alien spaceship, noting its enormous size and silent flight.
- Military Exercises: The Air Force explanation suggests some or all of the lights could be attributed to training maneuvers, although many remain unconvinced.
- Mass Hallucination or Hype: Skeptics propose that the sensational media coverage, combined with misinterpretations of everyday objects, contributed to a collective misperception.
- Undisclosed Technology: Some researchers theorize it could have been advanced, undisclosed technology tested by the U.S. military.
Cultural Impact
The Phoenix Lights quickly became a media sensation. Documentaries, books and interviews with witnesses keep the event alive in public consciousness. The incident also spurred greater interest in UFO phenomena, prompting calls for government transparency on unidentified aerial encounters.