USOs Not UFOs Have Been the Greatest Threat to the Navy

The United States Navy created a bit of a buzz when it revealed new guidelines for pilots who wanted to report encounters with unexplained aerial phenomena. The guidelines were created in response to a rash of unusual sightings over the past several years. Many media outlets equated unexplained aerial phenomena to unidentified flying objects, or UFOs, which in turn was interpreted by a lot of people as meaning “spacecraft flown by aliens.” To the disappointment of believers, most reported phenomena are probably due to something a bit more mundane than extraterrestrials taking a joy ride through our atmosphere. In addition to spotting experimental aircraft being tested, aviators may simply be succumbing to optical illusions or experiencing radar glitches. To date, there has been no documented damage to a plane caused by a UFO.