How Do I Report a UFO Sighting? Complete Official Reporting Guide

For immediate UFO reporting, contact the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC) at 206-722-3000 (24-hour hotline) or file online at nuforc.org. NUFORC maintains the world's largest civilian UFO database and shares data with government agencies.

Military personnel should use official chain of command channels first, while maintaining the option to also report through civilian channels. Commercial and private pilots should report to the Federal Aviation Administration through established safety reporting systems.

Photograph or video the object if possible, but prioritize safety and avoid distracted driving or dangerous positioning. Note camera settings, direction of view, and any reference objects in the frame for size comparison. Record your immediate impressions before details fade from memory.

Yes, the U.S. government actively encourages UFO/UAP reporting for national security and scientific research purposes. The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) within the Department of Defense collects and analyzes UAP reports from military and civilian sources.

Government agencies analyze patterns in UAP reports to assess potential threats, identify technology gaps, and support scientific research. Your report contributes to national security assessment and helps distinguish between conventional aircraft, foreign technology, and genuinely anomalous phenomena.

Pilots have specific protocols for UFO encounters due to aviation safety concerns and professional reporting requirements.

The 2019 Navy UAP reporting guidelines and similar Air Force directives removed stigma and career penalties for reporting unexplained encounters. Pilot reports carry significant weight due to professional training in aircraft identification and meteorological phenomena.

Several confidential reporting channels exist for witnesses concerned about privacy, career implications, or public attention.

NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System provides the strongest confidentiality protections, with legal immunities for good-faith reports. However, the most valuable reports for investigation include witness contact information for follow-up questions, verification, and additional detail gathering that may emerge over time.

Historical UFO sightings remain valuable for pattern analysis, geographic clustering studies, and temporal correlation research, even decades after the original encounter.

Many significant historical cases emerged years later when witnesses felt comfortable reporting or when cultural attitudes shifted. Academic researchers particularly value historical reports for longitudinal studies and pattern identification across decades of data.

The report handling process varies by organization but typically follows established investigation protocols.

NUFORC typically responds within days for significant sightings. MUFON assigns field investigators for promising cases. Government agencies may not provide individual feedback but contribute reports to broader analysis programs. Academic researchers often maintain ongoing contact for detailed studies.

Media contact involves significant considerations regarding privacy, credibility, and investigation integrity.

For exceptional cases with multiple witnesses, physical evidence, or significant aviation safety implications, media contact may serve public interest. However, prioritize official reporting channels that maintain investigative integrity and contribute to scientific analysis rather than entertainment value.

Law enforcement officers receive UFO reports from citizens and may witness unexplained phenomena during patrol duties. Professional protocols exist for handling these encounters.

Police officers provide credible witness testimony due to professional training in observation and reporting. Many significant UFO cases involve law enforcement witnesses, and departments increasingly recognize the value of proper documentation for these encounters.

UFO reporting systems exist worldwide with varying levels of government involvement and scientific research support.

Many countries share data through international cooperation agreements, NATO channels, and academic research networks. The global nature of UFO phenomena requires international coordination for comprehensive analysis and threat assessment, particularly for incidents near international borders or in international airspace.

Physical evidence preservation follows scientific protocols to maintain investigative value and prevent contamination.

Chain of custody documentation ensures evidence integrity for scientific analysis. Professional investigators prefer undisturbed evidence sites and original digital files over copies or enhanced versions that might compromise analytical value.

Civilian UFO organizations vary significantly in scientific rigor, investigative methodology, and credibility standards.

The most credible organizations maintain scientific methodology, peer review processes, and cooperation with academic institutions and government agencies. They focus on evidence-based investigation rather than belief promotion, providing valuable services while maintaining professional standards compatible with official research programs.

The most valuable reports focus on objective observation rather than interpretation, provide complete documentation, and maintain consistency across multiple tellings. Scientific analysis requires accurate data rather than dramatic narratives or predetermined conclusions about the object's origin or nature.