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Tonight, a shocking event
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sends the city of Phoenix
into a panic.
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More than 100 witnesses
called the UFO hotline.
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Some believe it's one of
the largest scale UFO sightings
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in history.
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They were about 3,000 feet high,
approximately.
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They looked as though
they were kind of hovering.
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But the question is,
what the heck is it?
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Now, we reveal the top theories
behind this phenomenon.
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JASON McCLELLAN:
What we find out is this
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isn't an isolated incident.
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These phenomena happen
all the time.
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Is the government
covering something up?
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MICHAEL J. CARTER:
Is Phoenix in the crosshairs
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of a possible interstellar war?
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Are we being targeted
for some reason?
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What could possibly account for
the mysterious Phoenix Lights?
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[music]
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New York, New York,
December 16th, 2017.
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News breaks of a secret
Pentagon program
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investigating
unidentified aerial phenomenon,
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also known as UFOs.
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AMORY SIVERTSON:
The New York Times publishes
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a bombshell report
that details the work
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of the Advanced Aerospace
Threat Identification Program,
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a shadowy government group
that has spent 10 years
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investigating
military encounters
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with strange unknown objects
in the sky.
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Here is another UFO bulletin.
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AMORY: For years, people have
reported encounters with UFOs.
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Roswell, Lubbock, Belgium--
the list goes on and on,
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and stretches
as far back as antiquity.
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JASON: Acknowledging
this program's existence
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is huge, because up
to this point
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the government's position
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has been deny, deny, deny.
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AMORY: And now,
they're not only admitting
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that these lights in the sky
really are something,
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but that they are,
in fact, unidentified.
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LAURENCE: Within months
the government
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declassifies videos
of some of these encounters.
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PILOT: Look at that thing, dude.
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LAURENCE: Including one
captured by the Navy in 2004,
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known as the "Tic Tac Video."
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PILOT: My gosh.
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100 miles off the coast
of San Diego,
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radar tracks the object
descending from 15 miles high
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down to 50 feet
in about one second.
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PILOT: Whoa, got it!
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[laughing]
Woohoo!
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No known object
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can fly that fast.
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PILOT: Oh my gosh, dude.
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- Wow.
- What is that, man?
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Look at it fly!
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When jets intercept it,
the cylindrical craft
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drops down below the water...
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What the -- is that, man?
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AMORY: ...then flies up
into the air,
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and then disappears.
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LAURENCE: When radar
detects the object,
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it's already 60 miles away.
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The video causes a sensation
when it's released.
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It's not only massive
international news,
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it's also vindication--
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vindication for people
who have seen these craft
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and have spent years
swearing that they exist.
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LAURENCE: Perhaps none
feel more vindicated
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than the citizens
who witnessed a strange event
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on March 13th, 1997.
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On the night of March 13th,
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reports come in from Phoenix,
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as well as California,
Nevada, and New Mexico.
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People are describing
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a huge V-shaped craft
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moving southeast
along the region.
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SHANE: Around sunset,
a man in Henderson, Nevada,
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observed and reported
a triangular-shaped aircraft
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with lights underneath it
hovering over the desert.
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MICHAEL: He moves in closer
to get a better look,
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and the object starts to move.
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Now, he doesn't know
what he's looking at,
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but he does know
this is not an airplane.
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LAURENCE: The sighting
of the unidentified craft
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is quickly confirmed by others.
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Twenty minutes later,
a retired police officer
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calls to report that he's seeing
the same object
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200 miles south of Henderson.
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AMORY: He follows it
with his car,
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and he's never closer to it
than about a mile.
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And yet, even from there,
he can tell it's gigantic.
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MICHAEL: Reports continue
to flood in.
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At 8:20, Prescott Valley,
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20 minutes later,
downtown Phoenix.
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JASON: I was kind of surprised
to see it on the news,
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but at the same time,
I was excited,
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because I thought
I would get some answers
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to explain this strange thing
that I'd just seen.
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These were
incredibly bright lights.
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They were completely motionless,
made no sound,
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and these lights
just hung there
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directly over me,
and I was awestruck.
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I observed these lights for
a period of about 30 minutes,
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went inside,
came back out later,
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and 45 minutes later,
this string of lights
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is still in the sky.
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LAURENCE: Also among
the eyewitnesses,
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Dr. Lynne Kitei.
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LYNNE KITEI: On March 13th,
1997, the Hale-Bopp comet
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was in clear view
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on a beautiful spring night
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in the northwest sky.
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Thousands of people went outside
to catch a glimpse of it.
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I go outside,
and suddenly I notice
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three amber orbs.
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Every other light
out there glared.
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These did not.
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The light did not extend
outside the edge.
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It was self-contained.
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They were very soothing,
very mesmerizing.
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And then, the top orb
started to shrink
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very, very slowly,
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until it was pea-size,
and then disappeared.
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But it felt like
it was still there.
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LAURENCE: As Dr. Kitei
watches the sky,
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calls pour in to local police
and news stations.
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We start tonight
with those strange dots of light
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that were the talk of the town.
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More than 100 witnesses
called the UFO hotline.
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LAURENCE: For answers,
authorities immediately
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reach out to Luke
Air Force Base.
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ALEJANDRO ROJAS:
Luke Air Force Base is a base
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right in the heart of Phoenix,
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and they fly a lot
of advanced aircraft.
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So, obviously, if anybody
knows what's going on,
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they would be
someone you would call
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to find out what the heck
this is.
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So, police, reporters,
and even the governor
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are calling the base
to find out what's going on.
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SHANE: Luke Air Force Base
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indicated that they had
no planes
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up in the air at the time,
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and they didn't know
anything about it.
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It was basically, "Nothing to
see here, move along."
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LAURENCE: But four months later,
the base offers an explanation.
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SHANE: They indicated
that a team of A-10 Warthogs
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from the Maryland National Guard
had deployed flares
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over the Estrella Mountains
at that time.
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LAURENCE:
Footage from that night
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seems to support this theory,
at first.
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It's getting closer
and closer, and we're saying,
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you know, that thing's
coming right at us!
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AMORY: When you look
at the witness video,
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I guess it's possible
they do kinda look like flares.
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And military activity
is pretty prevalent in the area.
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In addition to Luke,
there's Davis-Monthan Base,
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also in Arizona.
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And then there's Kirtland
and the Holloman bases
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not too far away
in New Mexico.
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LAURENCE: But eyewitnesses
quickly raise doubts.
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So, the Phoenix Light event
really had two phases.
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One was the large V-shaped craft
flying across the state,
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and the other was the lights
over the Estrella Mountains.
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However, when you look
at the flare theory,
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the flares might explain
the lights over the mountains,
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but it doesn't explain
the V-shaped aircraft
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witnessed by thousands
of people.
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LYNNE: It was so awesome
and so mind-boggling.
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Massive, massive craft
right over people's heads.
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It was silent.
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Took off at blank speed
without even dispersing the air.
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If you're trying to tell me
that flares
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that are dropped
from an aircraft on a parachute
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that drop haphazardly
with the wind,
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have huge smoke trails
that are illuminated
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by the flare itself,
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and illuminate
the area around it.
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They're heat-seeking
for missiles
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that are coming
towards aircraft.
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And not one person described
any of that.
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LAURENCE: And there
are other red flags.
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The Air Force claims
that the A-10 Warthogs
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deployed the flares over
the Estrella Mountains
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around 10:00 p.m.,
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which is not typically
standard operating procedure.
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In addition to that,
those flares--
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the LUU-2B/B flare--
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falls at a rate
of about eight feet per second.
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And from the time
the first flare was dropped
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to the last flare,
those flares would have dropped
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some 1,500 feet.
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Yet the video shows those lights
in a stationary position
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for about 30 minutes.
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LYNNE: And these amazing
amber orbs
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were just mind-boggling,
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so different than anything
you've ever seen,
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different from any other
light out there.
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It definitely wasn't flares.
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LAURENCE: The massive craft
also leaves no trace on radar.
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00:09:29,750 --> 00:09:32,708
Air traffic controllers at
Sky Harbor International Airport
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00:09:32,833 --> 00:09:35,833
check their call logs
and their radar,
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00:09:35,917 --> 00:09:38,333
and found no indication
of these aircraft.
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And if that's not
the definition of a UFO,
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I don't know what is.
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LAURENCE: To silence
the skeptics,
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00:09:44,625 --> 00:09:46,667
the Air Force decides to conduct
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a flare-drop demonstration
for the public.
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LYNNE: We get a very
public announcement
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00:09:51,875 --> 00:09:54,875
that three Air National Guards
were coming into town
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to show everyone
the Phoenix Lights,
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and we were ready.
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ALEJANDRO: And a lot of people
felt that exercise
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00:10:02,083 --> 00:10:05,750
didn't look similar to what
they had seen on March 13th.
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LYNNE: Talk about a joke.
[chuckles]
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They tried to make
a triangle.
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It was upside-down
and fell apart immediately.
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One of them just fizzled out.
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Had huge smoke trails,
just what flares do.
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It really put
the nail in the coffin.
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They had their shot.
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To date, the Phoenix Lights
have never been recreated
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00:10:27,417 --> 00:10:29,083
or explained.
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JASON: It's almost comical
that this is what
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00:10:31,250 --> 00:10:32,917
they expect us to believe.
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But fortunately,
I and many others in Phoenix
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00:10:34,917 --> 00:10:36,708
who saw the Phoenix Lights
that night
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weren't about to take
the Air Force's word
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00:10:38,333 --> 00:10:39,667
at face value.
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We were ready to dig in
and get answers.
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LAURENCE: After thousands
witness unexplained lights
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in the sky above
Phoenix, Arizona, in 1997,
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00:10:54,958 --> 00:10:57,667
the city is desperate
for answers.
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The March 13th, 1997
Phoenix Lights incident
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00:11:02,208 --> 00:11:04,667
was probably the largest
UFO mass sighting
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00:11:04,792 --> 00:11:07,542
in UFO history.
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But the question is,
what the heck is it?
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AMORY: The military
says it's flares,
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but almost nobody
in Phoenix believes it.
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They know what they saw,
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they know what flares
look like,
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and these weren't flares.
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MICHAEL: One of the things that
I think bothers people the most
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is the behavior
of our military.
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AMORY: Initially, the Air Force
denies having any involvement
245
00:11:31,875 --> 00:11:34,625
with the event,
but four months later
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00:11:34,708 --> 00:11:37,208
they come out with
this flare story.
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Why is that?
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SHANE: Even Governor
Fife Symington himself,
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00:11:42,417 --> 00:11:44,250
a former Air Force pilot,
250
00:11:44,375 --> 00:11:45,750
tried to make inquiries
251
00:11:45,875 --> 00:11:47,542
to the military
as to the identification
252
00:11:47,667 --> 00:11:49,333
of this object, and he himself
253
00:11:49,458 --> 00:11:50,833
got the runaround.
254
00:11:50,917 --> 00:11:52,917
And he's the governor
of the state of Arizona.
255
00:11:53,042 --> 00:11:57,042
Symington was also skeptical
of the flare explanation.
256
00:11:57,167 --> 00:12:00,667
He claimed that, you know,
flares don't fly in formation.
257
00:12:00,792 --> 00:12:02,417
LAURENCE:
Is it possible the military
258
00:12:02,542 --> 00:12:04,458
has something to hide?
259
00:12:04,542 --> 00:12:07,000
SHANE: So, many people feel
that Luke Air Force Base
260
00:12:07,167 --> 00:12:10,000
is not letting on
everything they know.
261
00:12:10,083 --> 00:12:11,958
And the reason
they could be doing that
262
00:12:12,042 --> 00:12:15,250
is because they're protecting
some secret military technology.
263
00:12:19,250 --> 00:12:23,250
LAURENCE: Located 20 miles
northwest of downtown Phoenix,
264
00:12:23,375 --> 00:12:27,083
Luke Air Force Base is home
to the most advanced aircraft
265
00:12:27,208 --> 00:12:28,750
in the U.S.
266
00:12:29,958 --> 00:12:31,667
AMORY: Luke Air Force Base
is affectionately called
267
00:12:31,792 --> 00:12:33,583
"The Home of the Fighter Pilot."
268
00:12:33,708 --> 00:12:36,542
It's where the 56th Fighter Wing
is based.
269
00:12:36,708 --> 00:12:38,500
And this is
the Air Force's version
270
00:12:38,667 --> 00:12:41,708
of what the Navy famously calls
Top Gun.
271
00:12:41,833 --> 00:12:43,833
RICHARD HOFFMAN: Back in '97,
it was the F-15,
272
00:12:43,917 --> 00:12:46,458
the F-16s were coming out.
273
00:12:46,542 --> 00:12:48,500
There were a whole bunch
of other kinds of aircraft
274
00:12:48,583 --> 00:12:51,792
that could potentially be seen
275
00:12:51,875 --> 00:12:54,708
being flown out
of Luke Air Force Base.
276
00:12:54,875 --> 00:12:57,625
AMORY: Basically,
any fixed-wing aircraft
277
00:12:57,708 --> 00:12:59,500
in the U.S. arsenal
has flown at Luke,
278
00:12:59,583 --> 00:13:01,375
plus a few that we don't
know about,
279
00:13:01,500 --> 00:13:03,083
because they're top-secret.
280
00:13:03,208 --> 00:13:05,000
JASON: We know for certain
that the U.S. military
281
00:13:05,125 --> 00:13:07,000
has tested top-secret weapons
and aircraft
282
00:13:07,083 --> 00:13:08,333
in this area for decades.
283
00:13:10,042 --> 00:13:12,083
LAURENCE: Among the
state-of-the-art aircraft
284
00:13:12,208 --> 00:13:16,458
initially flown here,
the X-1, the X-15,
285
00:13:16,542 --> 00:13:18,125
and the Blackbird.
286
00:13:18,250 --> 00:13:21,125
Each test is classified
and top-secret,
287
00:13:21,208 --> 00:13:24,708
and for some, that's a clue.
288
00:13:24,875 --> 00:13:27,042
These are all aircraft
that were developed
289
00:13:27,208 --> 00:13:30,500
and tested in total secrecy
up over the deserts here.
290
00:13:30,625 --> 00:13:32,917
If you would ask the military
about any of these
291
00:13:33,042 --> 00:13:34,958
back when they were still
being developed,
292
00:13:35,042 --> 00:13:37,333
you would have heard
the same kind of subterfuge
293
00:13:37,458 --> 00:13:40,083
and denial that we heard with
the Phoenix Lights incident.
294
00:13:41,250 --> 00:13:43,333
SHANE: There's a high presence
of the military
295
00:13:43,458 --> 00:13:46,042
in the state of Arizona,
and perhaps they were testing
296
00:13:46,167 --> 00:13:47,792
some secret technology.
297
00:13:47,917 --> 00:13:50,458
So, it makes sense that people
might have mistaken
298
00:13:50,583 --> 00:13:53,667
what they saw on the night
of March 13th, '97,
299
00:13:53,792 --> 00:13:55,292
for a UFO.
300
00:13:55,375 --> 00:13:58,333
LAURENCE: It wouldn't be
the first time that's happened.
301
00:13:58,458 --> 00:14:01,542
SHANE: In the 1980s
there were many UFO reports
302
00:14:01,667 --> 00:14:04,167
in the state of Arizona.
303
00:14:04,250 --> 00:14:07,250
However, those reports
ended up being identified
304
00:14:07,375 --> 00:14:10,917
as the F-117A
and the B-2 Bomber
305
00:14:11,042 --> 00:14:14,000
that were in development
at the time.
306
00:14:14,125 --> 00:14:16,042
When you look at these aircraft,
what do you see?
307
00:14:16,208 --> 00:14:18,958
You see V-shaped aircraft
that look similar
308
00:14:19,083 --> 00:14:20,958
with what they reported
in the Phoenix Lights,
309
00:14:21,083 --> 00:14:23,042
albeit smaller.
310
00:14:23,167 --> 00:14:25,208
AMORY: More recently,
we've had some UFO sightings
311
00:14:25,333 --> 00:14:28,125
that actually turned out
to be advanced spy drones,
312
00:14:28,208 --> 00:14:31,250
like the Air Force's
RQ-170 and RQ-180.
313
00:14:32,500 --> 00:14:34,333
Engineers contracted
by the government
314
00:14:34,417 --> 00:14:36,500
are currently at work
on a new stealth bomber,
315
00:14:36,583 --> 00:14:39,333
the B-21, which is scheduled
to be operational
316
00:14:39,458 --> 00:14:41,792
in the mid-2020s.
317
00:14:41,917 --> 00:14:44,083
That project wasn't greenlit
until 2015,
318
00:14:44,208 --> 00:14:47,000
so it's not responsible
for the Phoenix Lights.
319
00:14:47,125 --> 00:14:50,208
But it just goes to show they're
always working on something.
320
00:14:50,333 --> 00:14:52,042
ALEJANDRO: If nothing else,
we know that the Southwest
321
00:14:52,167 --> 00:14:55,875
is a hotbed for innovation
for aerospace
322
00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:58,375
in the public
and private sector.
323
00:14:58,542 --> 00:15:01,208
LAURENCE: Even so,
some doubt the military
324
00:15:01,333 --> 00:15:04,500
has the advanced technology
witnesses say they observed
325
00:15:04,625 --> 00:15:07,417
in Phoenix in 1997.
326
00:15:07,542 --> 00:15:10,833
Witnesses describe something
out of a sci-fi movie.
327
00:15:10,917 --> 00:15:13,917
They see this giant
V-shaped craft
328
00:15:14,042 --> 00:15:17,000
which was hundreds
and hundreds of yards across.
329
00:15:17,125 --> 00:15:18,917
SHANE: By comparison,
known aircraft
330
00:15:19,042 --> 00:15:20,500
such as the B-2 Bomber,
331
00:15:20,667 --> 00:15:23,792
the wingspan is only 172 feet.
332
00:15:23,875 --> 00:15:25,917
Or the largest plane
known to be flown,
333
00:15:26,042 --> 00:15:28,167
the Stratolaunch,
only had a wingspan
334
00:15:28,333 --> 00:15:31,208
of 385 feet.
335
00:15:31,333 --> 00:15:35,125
Our government has never flown
anything this big.
336
00:15:35,208 --> 00:15:38,167
AMORY: The Phoenix Lights craft
also moved slowly.
337
00:15:38,292 --> 00:15:42,250
Estimates place it
at about 15 to 30 miles an hour,
338
00:15:42,375 --> 00:15:46,333
and it was maybe 100 to 200 feet
off the ground at times.
339
00:15:46,458 --> 00:15:48,875
He thinks that-- he said
if he had a tennis ball,
340
00:15:49,042 --> 00:15:50,417
he could have hit it.
341
00:15:50,542 --> 00:15:52,458
He could have thrown
a tennis ball at it,
342
00:15:52,542 --> 00:15:53,875
- it was that close.
- It was very close.
343
00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:54,958
I just could have nailed it.
344
00:15:56,250 --> 00:15:57,833
LAURENCE: Others report
seeing the object
345
00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:00,667
come to a stop
and hover in place.
346
00:16:00,833 --> 00:16:03,167
AMORY: Airplanes can't do that.
347
00:16:03,292 --> 00:16:04,833
There's not enough airflow
to produce loft
348
00:16:04,958 --> 00:16:06,833
with their wings.
349
00:16:06,917 --> 00:16:09,042
Helicopters can,
but the Phoenix Lights craft
350
00:16:09,208 --> 00:16:11,625
moved silently.
351
00:16:11,708 --> 00:16:13,583
The flight characteristics
that they describe
352
00:16:13,708 --> 00:16:16,250
are unlike any other machine
we have in the air today.
353
00:16:16,375 --> 00:16:19,583
And keep in mind,
this is back in 1997,
354
00:16:19,708 --> 00:16:23,083
so 25 years ago, they had
something this incredible,
355
00:16:23,208 --> 00:16:25,500
and it still hasn't ever
seen the light of day?
356
00:16:27,333 --> 00:16:29,625
LAURENCE: But John Powell,
a private defense contractor
357
00:16:29,750 --> 00:16:33,875
for JP Aerospace,
believes this capability exists,
358
00:16:34,042 --> 00:16:36,292
and will soon be made public.
359
00:16:36,375 --> 00:16:39,917
Powell and JP Aerospace
were awarded a grant in 2014
360
00:16:40,042 --> 00:16:44,083
to develop slow-moving,
top-secret classified
361
00:16:44,208 --> 00:16:45,958
triangular aircraft.
362
00:16:46,042 --> 00:16:47,667
So, Powell believes that perhaps
what they saw
363
00:16:47,792 --> 00:16:49,333
during the Phoenix Lights
was something similar
364
00:16:49,458 --> 00:16:50,667
to what he's been developing.
365
00:16:50,792 --> 00:16:53,125
AMORY: The specs of these
are highly classified,
366
00:16:53,208 --> 00:16:55,833
but JP Aerospace
was able to get a prototype
367
00:16:55,917 --> 00:16:57,250
of this thing going.
368
00:16:57,375 --> 00:17:00,167
LAURENCE: Meanwhile,
Arizona lawmakers
369
00:17:00,292 --> 00:17:02,292
continue to press
the military for more answers.
370
00:17:04,292 --> 00:17:06,333
SHANE: So, Frances Emma Barwood
371
00:17:06,500 --> 00:17:09,208
was a City of Phoenix
councilperson.
372
00:17:09,333 --> 00:17:12,167
She launched an investigation
into the Phoenix Lights
373
00:17:12,292 --> 00:17:14,333
because no one else would.
374
00:17:14,500 --> 00:17:18,125
She interviewed
over 700 witnesses.
375
00:17:18,208 --> 00:17:21,000
She offered to let the military
talk to those witnesses,
376
00:17:21,083 --> 00:17:23,250
and they chose not to interview
a single person.
377
00:17:24,458 --> 00:17:25,708
ALEJANDRO:
Then-Senator John McCain
378
00:17:25,833 --> 00:17:28,167
put in a formal request
for more information,
379
00:17:28,292 --> 00:17:30,000
but that request was denied.
380
00:17:30,125 --> 00:17:32,542
LYNNE: If it's military,
show me.
381
00:17:32,667 --> 00:17:35,958
We have not seen anything
technologically
382
00:17:36,083 --> 00:17:39,292
even close to what thousands saw
383
00:17:39,375 --> 00:17:43,000
on March 13th, 1997,
right above their heads.
384
00:17:43,125 --> 00:17:45,708
The technology
has never been seen.
385
00:17:45,833 --> 00:17:50,583
If it was military
experimental aircraft, show me.
386
00:17:51,708 --> 00:17:53,667
ALEJANDRO: Until really
the government comes out
387
00:17:53,833 --> 00:17:55,250
and says this was them,
388
00:17:55,375 --> 00:17:58,125
and it is some sort
of classified project,
389
00:17:58,208 --> 00:18:00,333
people just still aren't gonna
know what to believe in,
390
00:18:00,458 --> 00:18:01,625
and it'll remain a mystery.
391
00:18:06,292 --> 00:18:09,875
LAURENCE: Phoenix, Arizona,
April 21st, 2008,
392
00:18:10,042 --> 00:18:12,250
nearly 11 years
after an entire city
393
00:18:12,375 --> 00:18:16,875
witnesses a strange UFO event,
it happens again.
394
00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:19,333
So, on Monday
at about 8:05 p.m.,
395
00:18:19,458 --> 00:18:21,708
again, you know, the police,
the Air Force,
396
00:18:21,833 --> 00:18:25,625
authorities are being
inundated with reports
397
00:18:25,708 --> 00:18:28,417
that there's another set of
lights hovering over the city.
398
00:18:28,542 --> 00:18:31,583
It's unbelievable, or maybe
it's totally believable.
399
00:18:31,708 --> 00:18:34,417
If it happened once,
why couldn't it happen again?
400
00:18:34,542 --> 00:18:36,292
REPORTER: Live and late-breaking
right now, they're back.
401
00:18:36,375 --> 00:18:37,792
Did you see them tonight?
402
00:18:37,917 --> 00:18:40,542
Many people called our news room
about lights in the sky.
403
00:18:40,667 --> 00:18:43,167
SHANE: People reported that
there was a series
404
00:18:43,292 --> 00:18:45,208
of four or five
orange-red lights
405
00:18:45,375 --> 00:18:46,958
over the north valley.
406
00:18:47,042 --> 00:18:49,833
It's like a repeat
of the 1997 incident.
407
00:18:49,917 --> 00:18:51,292
People come out running out,
408
00:18:51,375 --> 00:18:53,958
and they see
a V-shaped formation of lights.
409
00:18:54,083 --> 00:18:56,167
Initially there was four lights.
410
00:18:56,333 --> 00:18:59,833
They were about 3,000 feet high,
approximately.
411
00:18:59,958 --> 00:19:02,417
They looked as though they were
kind of hovering or floating.
412
00:19:02,542 --> 00:19:06,167
LAURENCE: But as it progresses,
this event plays out differently
413
00:19:06,250 --> 00:19:08,417
from the 1997 sighting.
414
00:19:08,542 --> 00:19:10,708
AMORY: As this 2008 formation
hovers,
415
00:19:10,833 --> 00:19:14,500
the shape changes
from a triangle into a square.
416
00:19:14,625 --> 00:19:16,167
The previous lights just
remained uniform
417
00:19:16,292 --> 00:19:17,667
in their V-shape.
418
00:19:17,792 --> 00:19:19,583
Lights in the sky,
did you see them tonight?
419
00:19:19,708 --> 00:19:21,208
Many people were calling
our news room.
420
00:19:21,333 --> 00:19:23,333
And if you missed it,
take a look.
421
00:19:23,500 --> 00:19:26,000
One man in North Phoenix caught
the lights on home video,
422
00:19:26,125 --> 00:19:28,375
15 minutes' worth.
423
00:19:28,500 --> 00:19:31,292
Whatever you believe happened
back in 1997,
424
00:19:31,417 --> 00:19:34,583
people are convinced
that it's happening again.
425
00:19:34,708 --> 00:19:38,792
LAURENCE: This time, they won't
have to wait long for answers.
426
00:19:38,917 --> 00:19:42,000
Unlike the Phoenix Lights,
the mystery to this event
427
00:19:42,167 --> 00:19:44,333
only lasted about 12 hours,
428
00:19:44,417 --> 00:19:47,208
because the next day,
April 22nd,
429
00:19:47,333 --> 00:19:50,292
a man called in admitting
that he was responsible.
430
00:19:50,417 --> 00:19:51,583
It was all a hoax.
431
00:19:53,917 --> 00:19:55,625
The whole thing was staged.
432
00:19:55,708 --> 00:19:58,500
The man tied flares
to helium balloons,
433
00:19:58,583 --> 00:20:00,708
and then let them go
one minute apart.
434
00:20:00,875 --> 00:20:03,708
AMORY: Is this a relief?
Is it disappointing?
435
00:20:03,875 --> 00:20:06,708
Does it make people angry?
It's hard to know how to feel.
436
00:20:06,833 --> 00:20:08,667
But one thing it does
is it makes people
437
00:20:08,792 --> 00:20:10,833
look back at the real
Phoenix Lights event
438
00:20:10,958 --> 00:20:13,000
11 years prior, and think,
439
00:20:13,125 --> 00:20:15,375
"Well, wait, what if that
was a hoax too?"
440
00:20:15,500 --> 00:20:17,667
Back in 1997 while they're
looking for answers
441
00:20:17,792 --> 00:20:19,167
and people are going
to the government,
442
00:20:19,292 --> 00:20:20,500
there are a lot of people
that think
443
00:20:20,625 --> 00:20:22,208
the whole thing was just a gag.
444
00:20:22,375 --> 00:20:24,833
LAURENCE: A 1997
press conference
445
00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:28,208
held by Arizona's
then-governor, Fife Symington,
446
00:20:28,333 --> 00:20:30,667
seems to bolster that theory.
447
00:20:30,833 --> 00:20:32,708
We're initially excited
and think we're finally gonna
448
00:20:32,833 --> 00:20:34,167
get a real investigation.
449
00:20:34,250 --> 00:20:36,833
And Fife Symington saw it,
and he's one of us.
450
00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:39,667
And now, I'll ask Officer Stein
and his colleagues
451
00:20:39,792 --> 00:20:41,542
to escort the accused
into the room
452
00:20:41,667 --> 00:20:43,917
so that we may all look
upon the guilty party.
453
00:20:46,250 --> 00:20:48,167
Don't get him
too close to me, please.
454
00:20:48,250 --> 00:20:50,625
It's... you know.
455
00:20:50,708 --> 00:20:56,125
In walks Governor Symington's
chief of staff, Jay Heiler,
456
00:20:56,250 --> 00:21:02,125
dressed in an alien suit
and handcuffs.
457
00:21:02,208 --> 00:21:04,167
JASON: It's met with
laughter and applause.
458
00:21:04,333 --> 00:21:07,292
It really does the whole thing
a huge disservice.
459
00:21:07,417 --> 00:21:08,833
The problem with
the press conference
460
00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:11,667
was it made getting answers
so much harder.
461
00:21:11,750 --> 00:21:13,417
If you ask
any questions about it,
462
00:21:13,542 --> 00:21:15,167
you were labeled a crackpot.
463
00:21:15,292 --> 00:21:17,708
Those kinds of things
are not helpful.
464
00:21:17,833 --> 00:21:20,500
And for people
who are really interested
465
00:21:20,625 --> 00:21:22,917
and they wanna find out
what's going on...
466
00:21:23,042 --> 00:21:24,875
[laughter]
467
00:21:26,042 --> 00:21:27,458
Thank you.
468
00:21:27,583 --> 00:21:29,708
MICHAEL: You can't get
to the bottom of anything
469
00:21:29,833 --> 00:21:32,167
because no one is taking
it seriously.
470
00:21:32,250 --> 00:21:34,042
SHANE: After that
news conference,
471
00:21:34,167 --> 00:21:36,042
the national media
picked up on that,
472
00:21:36,167 --> 00:21:38,417
that it's a joke
and not a serious event,
473
00:21:38,542 --> 00:21:40,042
and that became the story.
474
00:21:41,375 --> 00:21:44,458
LAURENCE: It's a story
some refuse to accept.
475
00:21:44,583 --> 00:21:46,500
Most people who thought
it was a hoax and laughed at it
476
00:21:46,625 --> 00:21:48,375
didn't actually see it happen.
477
00:21:48,542 --> 00:21:50,000
But unfortunately,
I think that laughter
478
00:21:50,125 --> 00:21:51,833
and skepticism was loud enough
479
00:21:51,917 --> 00:21:55,208
that it kept many of us
from finding more answers.
480
00:21:55,333 --> 00:21:57,500
It's unlikely that
the Phoenix Lights
481
00:21:57,667 --> 00:22:00,208
could be explained as a hoax,
482
00:22:00,375 --> 00:22:04,125
because you would need
someone to convince people
483
00:22:04,250 --> 00:22:07,417
along a 400-mile length
of desert
484
00:22:07,542 --> 00:22:11,500
that they're seeing an object
as large as a cruise ship
485
00:22:11,583 --> 00:22:14,583
with lights on it
as large as swimming pools.
486
00:22:15,708 --> 00:22:17,500
Then you would have to pull
a second stunt
487
00:22:17,625 --> 00:22:21,250
and convince a population
of 2.5 million people
488
00:22:21,375 --> 00:22:24,167
that, you know, this large
V-shaped group of lights
489
00:22:24,292 --> 00:22:25,583
flew over the city.
490
00:22:25,708 --> 00:22:27,833
That would be
awfully difficult to hoax.
491
00:22:27,958 --> 00:22:30,958
LYNNE: Twenty-five years later,
if it was a hoax,
492
00:22:31,083 --> 00:22:33,375
I would think that someone
would have come forward
493
00:22:33,542 --> 00:22:36,208
now that it's become
world-renowned.
494
00:22:36,333 --> 00:22:38,583
That has not happened to date.
495
00:22:38,708 --> 00:22:41,542
JASON: The individual
responsible for the 2008 prank
496
00:22:41,708 --> 00:22:43,417
can't even hold his tongue
for 24 hours.
497
00:22:43,542 --> 00:22:45,458
Saying it's a hoax
is really saying
498
00:22:45,542 --> 00:22:47,167
that all of the witnesses
499
00:22:47,292 --> 00:22:49,500
didn't understand what
they were seeing.
500
00:22:49,667 --> 00:22:51,542
It's saying that
they were gullible rubes.
501
00:22:52,625 --> 00:22:56,792
LAURENCE: Then, 10 years
after the 1997 sighting,
502
00:22:56,917 --> 00:22:59,667
Governor Symington
changes his story
503
00:22:59,792 --> 00:23:02,375
and challenges the hoax theory.
504
00:23:02,542 --> 00:23:06,667
So, in 2007, Governor Symington
came out to indicate
505
00:23:06,833 --> 00:23:10,458
that not only was
the Phoenix Lights not a hoax,
506
00:23:10,583 --> 00:23:13,333
but that he, in fact,
saw the craft himself.
507
00:23:13,500 --> 00:23:17,167
Well, I saw a-- a huge craft
508
00:23:17,292 --> 00:23:19,542
just kind of come
right over Squaw Peak...
509
00:23:21,708 --> 00:23:23,708
that was-- you know,
it was just breathtaking.
510
00:23:23,833 --> 00:23:26,083
SHANE: At the time people
in the city of Phoenix
511
00:23:26,208 --> 00:23:28,625
reported a UFO sighting,
512
00:23:28,750 --> 00:23:31,250
Symington was under
such political pressure
513
00:23:31,375 --> 00:23:32,708
as governor of the state,
514
00:23:32,833 --> 00:23:35,375
he did not want to add
to those political woes
515
00:23:35,542 --> 00:23:38,375
by claiming to have seen
a UFO himself.
516
00:23:38,500 --> 00:23:40,542
JASON: Thanks to him,
for about a decade
517
00:23:40,708 --> 00:23:43,500
the Phoenix Lights is really
largely viewed as a hoax.
518
00:23:43,583 --> 00:23:46,208
But his abrupt about-face
519
00:23:46,333 --> 00:23:48,417
creates renewed interest
in the case.
520
00:23:48,542 --> 00:23:50,750
It returns to the news cycle,
and it comes at a time
521
00:23:50,875 --> 00:23:52,708
when people
are more willing to believe.
522
00:23:52,875 --> 00:23:55,458
It's no longer a joke
or a source of embarrassment.
523
00:23:55,542 --> 00:23:56,958
It's a genuine mystery.
524
00:24:02,208 --> 00:24:05,167
After news of the Pentagon's
secret UFO monitoring program
525
00:24:05,292 --> 00:24:07,833
makes headlines in 2022,
526
00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:10,792
Congress vows
to investigate further.
527
00:24:10,917 --> 00:24:13,417
That spring, the House holds
the first public hearing
528
00:24:13,542 --> 00:24:16,750
on UFOS in more than 50 years.
529
00:24:16,875 --> 00:24:18,875
Those who witnessed
the Phoenix Lights
530
00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:22,000
hope it can finally
lead to answers.
531
00:24:23,625 --> 00:24:25,583
AMORY: Congress talks to dozens
of defense
532
00:24:25,708 --> 00:24:27,125
and intelligence officials,
533
00:24:27,208 --> 00:24:30,042
and collects thousands
and thousands of documents.
534
00:24:30,167 --> 00:24:33,250
All of that research is compiled
into a House Committee report
535
00:24:33,375 --> 00:24:35,250
about UFO encounters
like the one
536
00:24:35,375 --> 00:24:36,625
that happened in Phoenix.
537
00:24:36,708 --> 00:24:38,500
And while we know
that people have seen UFOs
538
00:24:38,667 --> 00:24:40,833
from time to time,
what we didn't know
539
00:24:40,958 --> 00:24:43,167
is that the military themselves
have had hundreds
540
00:24:43,333 --> 00:24:45,250
of their own UFO encounters
541
00:24:45,375 --> 00:24:47,833
which they've been keeping quiet
until now.
542
00:24:47,917 --> 00:24:51,000
UAPs are unexplained,
it's true,
543
00:24:51,167 --> 00:24:52,458
but they are real.
544
00:24:52,583 --> 00:24:54,083
They need to be investigated,
545
00:24:54,208 --> 00:24:56,375
and many threats they pose
need to be mitigated.
546
00:24:56,542 --> 00:24:58,083
JASON: This is huge.
547
00:24:58,208 --> 00:25:00,167
This is the U.S. government
going on record
548
00:25:00,333 --> 00:25:02,542
to say these things are real.
549
00:25:02,708 --> 00:25:05,500
MICHAEL: They've collected
144 incidents
550
00:25:05,625 --> 00:25:07,500
about these UAPs.
551
00:25:07,667 --> 00:25:09,458
Eighty of those
they have data on,
552
00:25:09,542 --> 00:25:11,500
infrared, sensory,
553
00:25:11,625 --> 00:25:12,875
and of course, video.
554
00:25:13,042 --> 00:25:16,208
Well, describe what
we have seen in that.
555
00:25:16,375 --> 00:25:17,667
What are we observing?
556
00:25:17,750 --> 00:25:20,500
What you see here is aircraft
557
00:25:20,625 --> 00:25:23,417
that is operating
in a U.S. Navy training range
558
00:25:23,542 --> 00:25:26,583
that has observed
a spherical object in that area.
559
00:25:26,708 --> 00:25:28,000
And as they fly by it,
they take a video.
560
00:25:32,625 --> 00:25:34,292
LAURENCE: Several declassified
government videos
561
00:25:34,417 --> 00:25:36,708
are released,
all seeming proof
562
00:25:36,833 --> 00:25:39,833
that extraterrestrial
encounters exist.
563
00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:42,375
And suddenly,
we have all the evidence we need
564
00:25:42,542 --> 00:25:44,083
about what happened in Phoenix.
565
00:25:48,208 --> 00:25:49,708
JASON: Thanks to the hearings,
we find out
566
00:25:49,875 --> 00:25:52,167
that these encounters
aren't isolated incidents.
567
00:25:52,250 --> 00:25:53,667
They happen all the time.
568
00:25:53,792 --> 00:25:57,458
MICHAEL: I mean, how else
can you reconcile the facts?
569
00:25:57,583 --> 00:25:59,583
A silently floating,
hovering craft
570
00:25:59,708 --> 00:26:01,500
the size of several
football fields,
571
00:26:01,625 --> 00:26:03,500
invisible to radar.
572
00:26:03,667 --> 00:26:07,000
There's nothing on Earth
that fits that description.
573
00:26:07,083 --> 00:26:09,292
LAURENCE: Believers like
Michael Carter
574
00:26:09,417 --> 00:26:13,625
cite a 1997 call
made to AM radio show
575
00:26:13,750 --> 00:26:16,000
Coast to Coast
as further evidence
576
00:26:16,125 --> 00:26:19,292
of an alien encounter
over Phoenix.
577
00:26:19,375 --> 00:26:21,042
The call is from a corpsman,
578
00:26:21,167 --> 00:26:23,958
someone who actually works
at Luke Air Force Base.
579
00:26:24,042 --> 00:26:28,333
He has an incredible story
about what happened on the base
580
00:26:28,458 --> 00:26:31,125
when this object appeared
over the sky
581
00:26:31,250 --> 00:26:32,667
of northern Arizona.
582
00:26:32,792 --> 00:26:36,292
The corpsman said
the base gets a call about 8:15
583
00:26:36,375 --> 00:26:41,042
about a large object moving out
of the sky in the northwest.
584
00:26:41,208 --> 00:26:43,458
Soon afterwards,
an alarm goes off,
585
00:26:43,583 --> 00:26:45,625
and all hell breaks loose.
586
00:26:45,708 --> 00:26:47,333
Luke Air Force Base keeps
587
00:26:47,417 --> 00:26:50,000
two F-15s on standby
588
00:26:50,167 --> 00:26:51,542
for emergency use.
589
00:26:51,667 --> 00:26:54,667
And on the evening
of March 13th, 1997,
590
00:26:54,792 --> 00:26:57,417
allegedly they scrambled
those two F-15s
591
00:26:57,542 --> 00:26:59,333
to intercept the object.
592
00:26:59,500 --> 00:27:01,292
The radio caller
doesn't know what it is,
593
00:27:01,417 --> 00:27:03,667
and to be frank, I don't think
the pilots do either.
594
00:27:03,833 --> 00:27:05,750
ALEJANDRO: The caller
claims that the event
595
00:27:05,875 --> 00:27:07,667
had scared the hell
out of the pilots,
596
00:27:07,833 --> 00:27:10,000
but they had gotten
some gun camera footage
597
00:27:10,083 --> 00:27:11,833
of the object.
598
00:27:11,917 --> 00:27:13,917
LAURENCE: If the caller
is telling the truth,
599
00:27:14,042 --> 00:27:16,250
the Air Force may have
actually recorded
600
00:27:16,375 --> 00:27:18,333
the Phoenix Lights UFO.
601
00:27:18,417 --> 00:27:20,875
Which means,
possibly locked away
602
00:27:21,042 --> 00:27:23,708
in some secret vault somewhere,
603
00:27:23,875 --> 00:27:27,250
we may actually have footage.
604
00:27:27,375 --> 00:27:32,875
We may have proof of what
these pilots actually saw.
605
00:27:33,042 --> 00:27:35,958
LAURENCE: Unfortunately,
if the video exists,
606
00:27:36,083 --> 00:27:39,208
it's never released,
and the anonymous caller
607
00:27:39,375 --> 00:27:41,542
has no additional information.
608
00:27:41,667 --> 00:27:43,167
JASON: He isn't one
of the pilots sent out.
609
00:27:43,292 --> 00:27:45,750
He's just on the base
when he hears all the commotion
610
00:27:45,875 --> 00:27:48,833
and the base goes into lockdown,
so he can't say exactly
611
00:27:48,917 --> 00:27:51,333
what the potential spacecraft
was doing in the area.
612
00:27:52,667 --> 00:27:57,000
LAURENCE: Some theorists believe
it's not there by coincidence.
613
00:27:57,125 --> 00:28:00,708
SHANE: Within a 500-mile radius
of the city of Phoenix,
614
00:28:00,833 --> 00:28:03,375
there are several
secret military bases.
615
00:28:03,542 --> 00:28:05,583
Area 51 to the north,
616
00:28:05,708 --> 00:28:08,125
Edwards Air Force Base
to the west,
617
00:28:08,250 --> 00:28:10,875
and White Sands
Missile Base to the east.
618
00:28:13,333 --> 00:28:16,000
JASON: If aliens were scouting
Earth and its defenses,
619
00:28:16,083 --> 00:28:17,875
this would be
a perfect place to go.
620
00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:21,833
LAURENCE: Arizona is also home
to several nuclear sites,
621
00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:24,500
areas that recent evidence
suggests may attract
622
00:28:24,667 --> 00:28:26,708
unidentified aircraft.
623
00:28:26,833 --> 00:28:28,458
MICHAEL: We're having more
and more sightings now,
624
00:28:28,542 --> 00:28:31,208
and within those sightings
there are certain patterns.
625
00:28:31,375 --> 00:28:33,667
And what we're seeing is that
there are more events
626
00:28:33,792 --> 00:28:35,875
where these UFOs are hovering
627
00:28:36,042 --> 00:28:39,250
over our nuclear
military instillations.
628
00:28:40,542 --> 00:28:42,458
LAURENCE: The phenomena isn't
limited to the United States.
629
00:28:42,583 --> 00:28:46,750
There are sightings in Mexico,
Italy, and even Iran.
630
00:28:46,875 --> 00:28:49,000
AMORY: There's a series
of UFO-related events
631
00:28:49,125 --> 00:28:52,458
that happen in
Iran in 2004 and 2005
632
00:28:52,583 --> 00:28:54,833
over one of their secret
nuclear sites.
633
00:28:54,917 --> 00:28:57,042
Several times during
that two-year period
634
00:28:57,167 --> 00:28:59,333
pilots near the Bushehr
Nuclear Facility
635
00:28:59,458 --> 00:29:02,333
have encounters with
large luminous cylinders
636
00:29:02,417 --> 00:29:05,875
that look and sound similar to
the quote-unquote "Tic-Tac UFO"
637
00:29:06,042 --> 00:29:08,667
that U.S. Navy pilots
saw in San Diego.
638
00:29:08,792 --> 00:29:11,500
And in one of those encounters,
an Iranian pilot
639
00:29:11,625 --> 00:29:13,875
actually engaged
with the object.
640
00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:16,208
LAURENCE: As news of such events
continues to spread,
641
00:29:16,375 --> 00:29:19,000
more become convinced that
what happened in Phoenix
642
00:29:19,167 --> 00:29:21,833
isn't an isolated incident.
643
00:29:27,250 --> 00:29:30,625
LAURENCE: Arizona's vast desert
has been home to humans
644
00:29:30,708 --> 00:29:32,167
for many thousands of years.
645
00:29:33,833 --> 00:29:36,042
And according to some,
there are signs
646
00:29:36,167 --> 00:29:37,792
in the archeological record
647
00:29:37,875 --> 00:29:39,833
that suggest
the Phoenix Lights incident
648
00:29:39,958 --> 00:29:42,042
is far from unique.
649
00:29:43,375 --> 00:29:45,958
MICHAEL: When you look back
into the history of this region,
650
00:29:46,042 --> 00:29:48,000
it dawns on you that before
651
00:29:48,083 --> 00:29:49,542
we even had the technology
652
00:29:49,667 --> 00:29:51,083
where we could take pictures
of this,
653
00:29:51,208 --> 00:29:54,125
and videos, and what have you,
this part of the country
654
00:29:54,250 --> 00:29:56,458
was always having
these kinds of sightings.
655
00:29:58,417 --> 00:29:59,958
AMORY: The Native Americans
who live in this part
656
00:30:00,042 --> 00:30:01,667
of the Southwestern
United States
657
00:30:01,833 --> 00:30:03,875
have a very complex mythology
658
00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:06,708
in which we see numerous
references and stories
659
00:30:06,833 --> 00:30:09,292
about the so-called
"star people."
660
00:30:10,292 --> 00:30:13,000
These are powerful,
yet benevolent beings
661
00:30:13,083 --> 00:30:15,000
arriving from other worlds.
662
00:30:15,167 --> 00:30:18,083
Both the Hopi and the Zuni
trace their ancestry
663
00:30:18,208 --> 00:30:20,500
back to beings
that they believe arrived
664
00:30:20,625 --> 00:30:22,167
from the region of the Pleiades,
665
00:30:22,333 --> 00:30:25,667
which is a star cluster
about 400 light years away
666
00:30:25,750 --> 00:30:27,333
near the constellation
of Taurus.
667
00:30:29,250 --> 00:30:31,333
MICHAEL: We see myths
and legends
668
00:30:31,458 --> 00:30:35,708
about the star people,
a benevolent but powerful people
669
00:30:35,875 --> 00:30:38,750
that these tribes
have interacted with.
670
00:30:38,875 --> 00:30:41,167
AMORY: These myths and artwork
suggest this area
671
00:30:41,292 --> 00:30:44,167
has been a hub
for extraterrestrial activity,
672
00:30:44,250 --> 00:30:45,792
and that the Phoenix Lights
incident
673
00:30:45,917 --> 00:30:47,958
is just part
of a repeating pattern,
674
00:30:48,083 --> 00:30:50,500
that these star people
have been coming back
675
00:30:50,625 --> 00:30:52,250
time and time again.
676
00:30:55,333 --> 00:30:57,000
JASON: Some believe
the Phoenix Lights incident
677
00:30:57,125 --> 00:30:59,958
is just one in a series of
extraterrestrial encounters
678
00:31:00,042 --> 00:31:02,000
that have been going on
for a long time,
679
00:31:02,167 --> 00:31:04,875
but started to increase in 1995.
680
00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:07,333
AMORY: The March of '97 event
was certainly seen
681
00:31:07,417 --> 00:31:09,958
by the most people,
but some believe
682
00:31:10,042 --> 00:31:12,000
there were several
previous fly-bys.
683
00:31:13,542 --> 00:31:16,083
One of them was witnessed
by several people.
684
00:31:16,208 --> 00:31:19,875
They stated
that on January 21st, 1995,
685
00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:24,125
they saw a triangular formation
of large lights.
686
00:31:24,208 --> 00:31:26,000
They weren't bright,
necessarily,
687
00:31:26,167 --> 00:31:27,792
but they were really big.
688
00:31:27,875 --> 00:31:30,083
They looked odd.
689
00:31:30,208 --> 00:31:31,875
LYNNE: I step out
on the balcony
690
00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:33,333
and immediately notice
691
00:31:33,458 --> 00:31:34,875
an eerie silence.
692
00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:39,167
The entire object
turned against the wind,
693
00:31:39,292 --> 00:31:41,833
elevated slowly,
and then moved
694
00:31:41,958 --> 00:31:44,083
in synchrony behind
South Mountain.
695
00:31:44,208 --> 00:31:47,500
But it felt like
something was watching me.
696
00:31:47,625 --> 00:31:50,542
LAURENCE: According to the
National UFO Reporting Center,
697
00:31:50,667 --> 00:31:54,333
the sightings in Arizona
grow increasingly frequent
698
00:31:54,458 --> 00:31:59,000
in the two years before
the 1997 Phoenix event.
699
00:31:59,083 --> 00:32:01,333
ALEJANDRO: Researchers
have found that coming up
700
00:32:01,500 --> 00:32:02,917
to the 1997 event,
701
00:32:03,042 --> 00:32:04,833
that there was an increase
702
00:32:04,958 --> 00:32:06,667
of sightings
of triangular craft.
703
00:32:07,958 --> 00:32:10,833
JASON: In fact, in January
and February of 1997
704
00:32:10,958 --> 00:32:12,625
we have multiple reports
705
00:32:12,708 --> 00:32:14,833
from multiple locations
706
00:32:14,958 --> 00:32:17,042
of the same formation
of lights over Arizona.
707
00:32:18,292 --> 00:32:19,708
SHANE: Air traffic controllers
708
00:32:19,875 --> 00:32:21,833
at Sky Harbor
International Airport
709
00:32:21,958 --> 00:32:24,125
observed five
equidistance lights
710
00:32:24,208 --> 00:32:26,042
that rose about 1,000 feet
711
00:32:26,208 --> 00:32:27,667
above the deck,
712
00:32:27,833 --> 00:32:30,417
they floated back
behind South Mountain,
713
00:32:30,542 --> 00:32:32,292
and dropped out of sight.
714
00:32:32,375 --> 00:32:34,458
They had no idea what they saw.
715
00:32:34,542 --> 00:32:38,167
It wasn't on radar,
and they behaved in a way
716
00:32:38,250 --> 00:32:40,250
that was unexplainable.
717
00:32:40,375 --> 00:32:43,333
LAURENCE: And right before
the Phoenix Lights,
718
00:32:43,500 --> 00:32:47,625
a tiny Arizona town is treated
to an encounter of their own.
719
00:32:47,708 --> 00:32:50,042
SHANE: On March 12th, 1997,
720
00:32:50,208 --> 00:32:52,833
the night before
the Phoenix Lights incident,
721
00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:55,083
a group of people made reports
of UFOs
722
00:32:55,208 --> 00:32:57,042
in a town called Leupp.
723
00:32:57,208 --> 00:32:59,667
JASON: Leupp is 200 miles
north of Phoenix,
724
00:32:59,750 --> 00:33:03,042
south of the Grand Canyon
and the Hopi Indian Reservation,
725
00:33:03,208 --> 00:33:05,375
who as we've seen,
share a rich mythology
726
00:33:05,500 --> 00:33:07,167
of alien visitation.
727
00:33:07,250 --> 00:33:10,333
SHANE: A large V-shaped aircraft
appeared in their valley
728
00:33:10,458 --> 00:33:12,250
with about a dozen
other small craft,
729
00:33:12,375 --> 00:33:15,500
and they began to float
and engage each other
730
00:33:15,583 --> 00:33:18,625
almost like
an extraterrestrial ballet.
731
00:33:18,750 --> 00:33:21,083
And these people pulled out
their lawn chairs
732
00:33:21,208 --> 00:33:22,833
and watched it like
they were watching the fireworks
733
00:33:23,000 --> 00:33:25,083
on the 4th of July.
734
00:33:25,208 --> 00:33:27,917
LAURENCE: But why did
these possible visits ramp up,
735
00:33:28,042 --> 00:33:30,000
and why did they stop?
736
00:33:30,167 --> 00:33:31,667
JASON: That's the real question.
737
00:33:31,750 --> 00:33:34,417
Let's say Arizona has been
getting regular alien visitation
738
00:33:34,542 --> 00:33:35,958
for millennia.
739
00:33:36,042 --> 00:33:38,208
What's so special
about the mid '90s
740
00:33:38,375 --> 00:33:40,333
that we start to get
a flurry of activity?
741
00:33:40,500 --> 00:33:43,167
We go from a few visits
per century
742
00:33:43,292 --> 00:33:46,500
to a few visits per year,
to several in the same month.
743
00:33:46,583 --> 00:33:48,792
Then, absolutely nothing.
744
00:33:48,875 --> 00:33:53,542
Can anybody explain that?
745
00:33:53,667 --> 00:33:55,292
LAURENCE: Despite the many
thousands of eyewitnesses
746
00:33:55,417 --> 00:33:58,167
to the 1997 Phoenix event,
747
00:33:58,250 --> 00:34:01,458
the cause of the incident
remains a mystery.
748
00:34:01,542 --> 00:34:04,250
It's military flares,
it's an experimental aircraft,
749
00:34:04,375 --> 00:34:06,083
it's a hoax, it's aliens.
750
00:34:06,208 --> 00:34:08,333
Is the government
covering something up?
751
00:34:08,458 --> 00:34:10,583
Are we being targeted
for some reason?
752
00:34:10,708 --> 00:34:12,458
JASON: Each theory
has some arguments for it
753
00:34:12,583 --> 00:34:13,917
and some against it,
754
00:34:14,042 --> 00:34:15,167
and each by itself leaves a lot
755
00:34:15,292 --> 00:34:17,000
of unanswered questions.
756
00:34:17,125 --> 00:34:19,167
MICHAEL: Many theorists say,
"Wait a minute,
757
00:34:19,292 --> 00:34:20,458
"we've had these answers here
758
00:34:20,542 --> 00:34:21,667
the whole time."
759
00:34:21,792 --> 00:34:24,458
The events on March 13th, 1997,
760
00:34:24,542 --> 00:34:27,042
isn't just about just one
of these theories.
761
00:34:27,167 --> 00:34:28,708
It's about all of them.
762
00:34:32,375 --> 00:34:35,417
LAURENCE: It all begins
around 8:00 p.m.
763
00:34:35,542 --> 00:34:39,333
This is the period when people
actually see the spacecraft.
764
00:34:39,500 --> 00:34:42,167
The hull of it and the structure
of it is visible.
765
00:34:42,333 --> 00:34:45,042
AMORY: The silent movements,
the anti-gravity technology
766
00:34:45,167 --> 00:34:46,667
it seems to exhibit.
767
00:34:46,750 --> 00:34:49,208
Knowing what we now know
about the long history
768
00:34:49,333 --> 00:34:51,667
of UFO contact
in the United States,
769
00:34:51,750 --> 00:34:54,417
many are convinced that this
is an alien ship.
770
00:34:54,542 --> 00:34:59,167
It does a low slow pass
across Nevada and Arizona,
771
00:34:59,292 --> 00:35:02,000
sparking hundreds of reports
to authorities.
772
00:35:02,125 --> 00:35:04,250
MICHAEL: As we know from
the Luke Air Force Base
773
00:35:04,375 --> 00:35:06,167
radio caller,
these UFO sightings
774
00:35:06,250 --> 00:35:08,333
get the attention
of the military.
775
00:35:08,458 --> 00:35:10,500
JASON: They scramble their jets
on a course to intercept.
776
00:35:10,625 --> 00:35:13,667
According to that airman,
they actually see the craft,
777
00:35:13,750 --> 00:35:15,375
and perhaps even film it.
778
00:35:15,542 --> 00:35:18,042
MICHAEL: Now, the airman
claims that F-15s
779
00:35:18,208 --> 00:35:20,250
were sent out to investigate.
780
00:35:20,375 --> 00:35:25,417
But simultaneous reports
here, here, and here
781
00:35:25,542 --> 00:35:27,958
show that
that may not have been so.
782
00:35:28,042 --> 00:35:30,083
AMORY: Many don't believe
they sent F-15s
783
00:35:30,208 --> 00:35:31,667
next to the alien ship.
784
00:35:31,792 --> 00:35:34,125
People didn't see any F-15s,
785
00:35:34,208 --> 00:35:36,042
radar didn't pick up
any F-15s,
786
00:35:36,167 --> 00:35:37,750
nobody heard any F-15s.
787
00:35:39,583 --> 00:35:42,250
MICHAEL: These are pretty loud
fighter planes.
788
00:35:42,375 --> 00:35:45,375
You know when an F-15
is flying overhead.
789
00:35:45,542 --> 00:35:47,333
One thing that characterizes
this whole event
790
00:35:47,458 --> 00:35:49,833
is how quiet
the whole thing was.
791
00:35:49,958 --> 00:35:53,417
The military actually sends out
a top-secret experimental craft.
792
00:35:53,542 --> 00:35:55,917
People over here
are seeing an alien ship,
793
00:35:56,042 --> 00:35:57,292
while people over here
are seeing
794
00:35:57,375 --> 00:35:58,917
a top-secret military aircraft.
795
00:35:59,042 --> 00:36:01,125
LAURENCE: Is it possible
that the U.S.
796
00:36:01,208 --> 00:36:03,542
scrambled a top-secret
experimental craft
797
00:36:03,708 --> 00:36:06,167
to intercept
the alleged alien vessel?
798
00:36:07,292 --> 00:36:09,083
One thing is certain,
799
00:36:09,208 --> 00:36:13,500
whatever is in the air
doesn't stay around long.
800
00:36:13,583 --> 00:36:16,000
JASON: Why it leaves,
we don't know.
801
00:36:16,125 --> 00:36:17,792
Were they spooked
by the military intercept?
802
00:36:17,917 --> 00:36:20,292
MICHAEL: Are they trying
to gather intelligence
803
00:36:20,417 --> 00:36:22,167
on our defense capabilities?
804
00:36:22,333 --> 00:36:24,042
Whatever the reason,
they took off.
805
00:36:24,208 --> 00:36:26,375
AMORY: Now, if this theory
is correct,
806
00:36:26,542 --> 00:36:28,500
the military
has a problem on its hands.
807
00:36:28,625 --> 00:36:30,583
They know a large amount
of the population
808
00:36:30,708 --> 00:36:33,792
in the Phoenix area
has seen this alien spaceship.
809
00:36:33,917 --> 00:36:37,083
But in 1997,
the government's policy on UFOs
810
00:36:37,208 --> 00:36:41,250
is very clear--
deny, deny, deny.
811
00:36:41,375 --> 00:36:43,625
LAURENCE: Thanks to recent
congressional hearings,
812
00:36:43,708 --> 00:36:47,667
it's clear the military
has a long clandestine history
813
00:36:47,792 --> 00:36:50,333
of encounters with UAPs,
814
00:36:50,500 --> 00:36:53,250
as well as a history
of cover-ups.
815
00:36:57,875 --> 00:37:01,292
Perhaps the Phoenix Lights
is one of them.
816
00:37:01,375 --> 00:37:06,500
And Luke Air Force Base
is a possible ground zero.
817
00:37:06,667 --> 00:37:08,000
JASON: So, the bigwigs
at Luke Air Force Base
818
00:37:08,083 --> 00:37:09,500
speak to their superiors,
819
00:37:09,667 --> 00:37:11,500
and they realize
they have precious little time
820
00:37:11,667 --> 00:37:13,250
to figure out how to deal
with this situation.
821
00:37:13,375 --> 00:37:15,375
MICHAEL:
Within a half hour or so,
822
00:37:15,542 --> 00:37:18,958
they come up with a plan,
a subterfuge,
823
00:37:19,083 --> 00:37:20,667
which is a little hoax
of their own.
824
00:37:20,792 --> 00:37:22,833
JASON: They send up
A-10 Warthogs
825
00:37:23,000 --> 00:37:25,750
to drop a series of flares
right over Phoenix.
826
00:37:25,875 --> 00:37:29,333
They choose a very visible place
where everyone will see.
827
00:37:29,417 --> 00:37:31,125
MICHAEL: So, if they
were going to do
828
00:37:31,208 --> 00:37:34,167
a secret quote-unquote
"training exercise,"
829
00:37:34,292 --> 00:37:36,042
why would they drop
these flares
830
00:37:36,208 --> 00:37:39,167
in front of 2.5 million people
831
00:37:39,333 --> 00:37:41,167
knowing they were gonna
freak out about it?
832
00:37:41,250 --> 00:37:43,458
JASON: If it was
what they say it was,
833
00:37:43,542 --> 00:37:45,167
they would have done it
in seclusion.
834
00:37:45,292 --> 00:37:47,000
They choose to drop the flares
835
00:37:47,167 --> 00:37:49,167
in front of the whole city
on purpose,
836
00:37:49,292 --> 00:37:51,083
because it's not
a training exercise,
837
00:37:51,208 --> 00:37:52,375
it's a distraction.
838
00:37:53,750 --> 00:37:57,333
LAURENCE: Their explanation
works initially.
839
00:37:57,500 --> 00:38:00,167
MICHAEL: While 1,000 people
are seeing an alien spaceship,
840
00:38:00,333 --> 00:38:03,583
a million-plus people are seeing
flares in the sky.
841
00:38:03,708 --> 00:38:05,542
JASON: That's the story
the Air Force releases,
842
00:38:05,708 --> 00:38:08,458
and they're able
to convince people for a while.
843
00:38:08,542 --> 00:38:11,875
MICHAEL: They at least confuse
enough people to create doubt.
844
00:38:12,000 --> 00:38:15,958
They even convince the governor
to ignore what he saw
845
00:38:16,083 --> 00:38:19,000
and call the whole thing
a joke on national television.
846
00:38:19,125 --> 00:38:21,333
If it is just military flares
847
00:38:21,458 --> 00:38:23,333
and I come out
screaming about aliens,
848
00:38:23,417 --> 00:38:25,458
I'm gonna be a laughing stock.
849
00:38:25,542 --> 00:38:29,167
Once you have people thinking
in that way, you've won.
850
00:38:29,333 --> 00:38:30,875
MICHAEL: So, there's an
alien encounter.
851
00:38:31,042 --> 00:38:34,583
Then it's the sighting of
a top-secret military aircraft.
852
00:38:34,708 --> 00:38:38,042
Then it's flares
used to create a hoax
853
00:38:38,208 --> 00:38:40,333
and then to cover up the truth.
854
00:38:40,500 --> 00:38:43,083
LAURENCE: Thanks to new
government transparency,
855
00:38:43,208 --> 00:38:44,875
believers are optimistic
the truth
856
00:38:45,042 --> 00:38:46,625
will someday be known.
857
00:38:46,708 --> 00:38:48,542
Now that the armed forces
are more open
858
00:38:48,667 --> 00:38:50,792
about UFO sightings,
there's renewed hope
859
00:38:50,917 --> 00:38:52,667
that they might come out
with more information
860
00:38:52,833 --> 00:38:54,458
about what actually
happened in Phoenix.
861
00:38:54,583 --> 00:38:57,125
What did they encounter in 1997?
862
00:38:57,250 --> 00:38:59,667
Did they actually
capture it on film?
863
00:38:59,833 --> 00:39:03,000
As they continue to declassify
these files and videos,
864
00:39:03,167 --> 00:39:04,833
maybe we'll find out.
865
00:39:04,958 --> 00:39:07,792
As congressmen, senators,
and even presidents have said,
866
00:39:07,917 --> 00:39:09,667
the focus of their research
is to determine
867
00:39:09,792 --> 00:39:12,000
if UFOs pose
a threat to America.
868
00:39:12,125 --> 00:39:13,875
MICHAEL: Some people
are curious,
869
00:39:14,042 --> 00:39:15,333
and then there are some people
870
00:39:15,458 --> 00:39:17,792
who are really scared.
871
00:39:17,875 --> 00:39:22,083
Is Phoenix in the crosshairs
of a possible interstellar war?
872
00:39:22,208 --> 00:39:24,500
Well, the public
would like to know that.
873
00:39:24,667 --> 00:39:26,333
JASON: It's a hard thing
to explain,
874
00:39:26,458 --> 00:39:29,083
but a lot of people
who experienced this event
875
00:39:29,208 --> 00:39:30,667
came away feeling something,
876
00:39:30,792 --> 00:39:32,667
wondering if they were meant
to see it,
877
00:39:32,833 --> 00:39:35,458
meant to feel it,
meant to experience
878
00:39:35,583 --> 00:39:38,333
some sort of connection
with what they saw.
879
00:39:38,500 --> 00:39:40,417
Some even describe feeling calm
880
00:39:40,542 --> 00:39:42,667
or even being told
to not be afraid.
881
00:39:42,750 --> 00:39:46,333
People were in awe
and in wonder, curious.
882
00:39:46,500 --> 00:39:47,917
So many cars pulled over
883
00:39:48,042 --> 00:39:50,833
to watch this amazing,
884
00:39:50,917 --> 00:39:53,125
extraordinary sight.
885
00:39:53,208 --> 00:39:55,792
In real time
and in long term,
886
00:39:55,875 --> 00:40:00,250
it affected the experiencers
very profoundly.
887
00:40:00,375 --> 00:40:01,833
Who are you?
What are you?
888
00:40:02,000 --> 00:40:03,792
Do you know that I'm here?
I'd love to meet you.
889
00:40:06,500 --> 00:40:09,000
Today, the U.S. government's
tracking
890
00:40:09,083 --> 00:40:10,667
and studying of UFOs
891
00:40:10,792 --> 00:40:12,708
continues under the authority
892
00:40:12,875 --> 00:40:15,792
of the Unidentified Aerial
Phenomenon Task Force.
893
00:40:15,917 --> 00:40:18,667
There's even a new branch
of the military to assist--
894
00:40:18,833 --> 00:40:21,583
the United States Space Force.
895
00:40:21,708 --> 00:40:24,417
And perhaps together
they'll gain insight
896
00:40:24,542 --> 00:40:27,250
into what really happened
in Phoenix.
897
00:40:27,375 --> 00:40:29,292
I'm Laurence Fishburne.
898
00:40:29,375 --> 00:40:31,000
Thank you for watching
899
00:40:31,167 --> 00:40:33,708
"History's Greatest Mysteries."