USA: FAA publishes UFO database despite denying tracking
The Black Vault revealed that the FAA maintains an internal database containing UFO sighting reports, contradicting the agency's public statements that it does not track such phenomena. The database contains over 260 references to unidentified objects mixed with drone incident reports, including cases from commercial pilots and air traffic controllers.
Background
Following public statements by the U.S. Navy regarding UAP investigations, The Black Vault filed inquiries with the Federal Aviation Administration regarding commercial aviation reporting procedures. While FAA representatives claimed the agency 'does not track UFOs' and referred researchers to civilian reporting centers, investigators uncovered an official FAA database containing numerous unexplained aerial encounter reports filed by pilots and air traffic controllers.
The database, primarily established for tracking unauthorized Unmanned Aviation System (UAS) activity, contained over 260 distinct references to 'unidentified' objects, aircraft, and helicopters. Specific incidents included sightings near Washington D.C. involving steadily illuminated objects traversing the horizon, and a case in Punta Gorda, Florida, where an Airbus A320 crew reported observing an unidentified craft while taxiing. Entries dated as recently as March 2019 demonstrated ongoing documentation practices.
Despite the FAA's assertion that many reports lack descriptive detail and might represent balloons or debris, the existence of the centralized database contradicted official denials of UFO tracking activities. Internal FAA Order JO 7110.65Y contains specific procedural guidelines directing controllers to route UFO reports to external data collection centers while maintaining internal records, indicating institutional acknowledgment of the phenomenon.
On April 21, 2020, The Black Vault released the complete database as searchable PDF and Excel files, confirming that the FAA continues archiving UFO reports alongside drone sightings. This disclosure highlighted significant contradictions between the agency's public communications and its internal safety monitoring practices.