Pentagon Releases UFO Files Including Near-Miss Encounter

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  • May 8, 2026 at 11:12 AM ET
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Key Takeaways

The Pentagon has released its first batch of previously classified UFO files following President Trump's directive for transparency. The release includes 162 files dating back decades, encompassing documents from agencies such as the FBI, Department of State, and NASA.

  • The release comprises 120 PDFs, 28 videos, and 14 images of suspicious objects in the sky filmed by military aircraft.
  • A senior U.S. intelligence official described a close-range encounter with fast-moving, 'super-hot' unidentified objects that came within roughly 10 feet of a helicopter during an aerial search.
  • The Pentagon stated that out of the released files, 108 contain redactions to protect sensitive information but assured no redactions were made concerning UAP encounters.
  • President Trump directed the release in February via Truth Social, calling for maximum transparency on UFOs and extraterrestrial life.
  • Additional documents will be released on a rolling basis as they are discovered and declassified.

The Pentagon has released its first batch of previously classified UFO files following President Trump's directive for transparency. The release includes 162 files dating back decades, encompassing documents from agencies such as the FBI, Department of State, and NASA.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized that these files have long fueled speculation and it is time for the American public to see them. The release comprises 120 PDFs, 28 videos, and 14 images of suspicious objects in the sky filmed by military aircraft. Notably, six photos show objects observed by NASA astronauts during Apollo missions, along with a composite sketch from an FBI photo depicting an ellipsoid metallic object.

According to Fox News, a senior U.S. intelligence official described a close-range encounter with fast-moving, 'super-hot' unidentified objects that came within roughly 10 feet of a helicopter during an aerial search. The account is detailed in an FBI Form 302 interview report and includes interactions between federal agents and witnesses.

The Pentagon stated that out of the released files, 108 contain redactions to protect sensitive information but assured no redactions were made concerning UAP encounters. The release also includes transcripts and case files detailing reports of unidentified objects from 1947 to 1968. Additional documents will be released on a rolling basis as they are discovered and declassified, with tranches posted every few weeks.

President Trump directed the release in February via Truth Social, calling for maximum transparency on UFOs and extraterrestrial life. The Pentagon has tracked UAP reports for decades but maintains there is no evidence confirming the existence of extraterrestrial life from these investigations. Experts have urged caution around interpreting the new files due to potential misinterpretations of advanced military technology.

The Los Angeles Times reported that a document details an FBI interview with someone identified as a drone pilot who, in September 2023, reported seeing a linear object with a light bright enough to see bands within the light. The object was visible for five to ten seconds and then vanished. Additionally, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) demanded 46 UAP videos identified by whistleblowers, which are expected to be released in a later Pentagon release.

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