1947
Incident
Roswell Incident
Alleged crash recovery in Roswell, New Mexico. US Army initially reports 'flying disc' recovered, then retracts to 'weather balloon'.
History
Timeline
Key moments in UAP history, from Roswell to the Trump disclosure order. 27 events spanning 1947 to 2026.
1940s
2 events1947
1950s
1 event1952
Government
Project Blue Book
USAF's systematic study of UFOs begins. Will investigate 12,618 sightings over 17 years.
1960s
4 events1961
Incident
Betty & Barney Hill
First widely publicized alien abduction claim. Missing time, recovered memories under hypnosis.
1966
Incident
Westall School
Over 200 students and teachers witness a UFO at a school in Melbourne, Australia.
1967
Incident
Shag Harbour
Object crashes into waters off Nova Scotia. Canadian military conducts underwater search.
1969
Government
Blue Book Closes
Project Blue Book ends. 701 of 12,618 cases remain 'unidentified'. Government says no further investigation needed.
1970s
2 events1975
Incident
Travis Walton
Arizona logger allegedly abducted for 5 days. Multiple witnesses to initial encounter. Passes polygraph.
1977
Government
Operation Prato
Brazilian Air Force investigates intense UAP activity in Colares. Documents include military photographs of luminous objects.
1980s
2 events1980
Incident
Rendlesham Forest
US military personnel at RAF bases in England report encounters over multiple nights. Physical trace evidence documented.
1989
Incident
Belgian Wave
Thousands of witnesses report large triangular craft over Belgium. F-16s scrambled. Radar confirmation.
1990s
3 events1994
Incident
Ariel School
62 schoolchildren in Ruwa, Zimbabwe report landed craft and beings. Interviewed by Dr. John Mack of Harvard.
1996
Incident
Varginha Incident
Multiple witnesses in Varginha, Brazil report seeing strange beings. Military response documented.
1997
Incident
Phoenix Lights
Thousands witness massive V-shaped craft over Phoenix, Arizona. Governor initially dismisses, later confirms sighting.
2000s
2 events2004
Incident
USS Nimitz Encounter
Navy pilots encounter 'Tic Tac' object off San Diego. Multiple sensor systems track object performing impossible maneuvers.
2007
Government
AAWSAP Funded
$22 million DIA program to study UAP and advanced aerospace threats. Run through Bigelow Aerospace.
2010s
2 events2012
Government
AATIP Begins
Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program established within the Pentagon. Luis Elizondo becomes director.
2017
Media
NYT Exposé
New York Times reveals AATIP's existence. Navy UAP videos officially released. Modern disclosure era begins.
2020s
9 events2020
2021
Government
ODNI Report
First official US intelligence assessment on UAP. Of 144 incidents, only 1 explained. Acknowledges UAP are real physical objects.
2022
Government
First Hearing in 50 Years
House Intelligence Committee holds first congressional UAP hearing since 1969. Pentagon officials testify.
2022
Government
AARO Established
All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office created by NDAA to be the government's central UAP investigative body.
2023
Government
Grusch Testimony
David Grusch testifies under oath about crash retrieval programs, nonhuman biologics, and misappropriated funds. Most-watched UAP event in history.
2023
Government
UAP Disclosure Act
Schumer-Rounds amendment proposes JFK-style review board for UAP records. Largely stripped from final NDAA.
2025
Government
Knapp Hearing
George Knapp and new witnesses testify. Yemen orb footage discussed. Fresh whistleblower claims.
2026
Government
Trump Disclosure Order
President Trump orders federal agencies to consolidate and release UAP files. NARA creates Record Group 615.
Source: Al Jazeera, 20 Feb 20262026
Media
Obama: 'Aliens Are Real'
Former President Obama says aliens are 'real' on podcast, sparking massive public interest surge. The same day he clarifies that he saw no evidence during his presidency that extraterrestrials had made contact.
Source: CNN, 16 Feb 2026That is the record so far. Know of a hearing, release or report that belongs here?Suggest a source →Browse the cases →