Three military veterans provided compelling testimonies regarding unidentified flying objects (UFOs) during a House Oversight hearing on October 30, 2024. The session, convened by the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, aimed to address the growing interest and concern surrounding what are now officially termed unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs). Witnesses detailed alarming encounters and alleged efforts to suppress their accounts.
Among the most striking revelations was the presentation of previously unseen footage by Congressman Eric Burlison, a Republican from Missouri. The video depicted a U.S. military drone firing a Hellfire missile at a mysterious orb off the coast of Yemen. The missile appeared ineffective, bouncing off the craft, which continued its trajectory unimpeded. Former Air Force military police officer Jeffrey Nuccetelli, one of the witnesses, described the evidence as “exceptional.”
The session sparked intense exchanges between lawmakers and the military eyewitnesses. Congressman Jared Moskowitz from Florida expressed disbelief after viewing another unexplained video. He remarked, “We’ve never seen anything like that. It defies what we know to be technologically possible.” His comments highlighted a growing suspicion that government officials may be withholding critical information regarding these unexplained encounters.
Nuccetelli, who served for 16 years, shared his experiences at Vandenberg Air Force Base between 2003 and 2005. He reported multiple unexplained incidents, including sightings of “glowing red squares” and massive rectangle-shaped crafts. His testimony underscored the risks faced by military personnel who come forward with such accounts.
Another notable witness, investigative journalist George Knapp, recounted a potentially catastrophic incident from 1982. He described how UFOs appeared over a Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) base. During this event, the launch control systems were activated, causing panic among Soviet officers. “The missiles were fired up and ready to launch, and they could not shut it down,” Knapp recounted, noting that the situation only de-escalated when the UFOs vanished.
Congresswoman Lauren Boebert pressed for clarity on how the military has handled investigations into these phenomena. Nuccetelli revealed that records had been destroyed, making it challenging to obtain information about reported incidents. Such actions raised concerns about transparency and accountability within military operations.
Ex-Air Force geospatial intelligence specialist Dylan Borland shared his distressing experience from a 2012 UFO report. He claimed that after witnessing a large triangular object, he faced significant professional repercussions. Borland stated that government agencies obstructed his career and manipulated his security clearance following his report, leading to his current unemployment.
The hearing also included testimony from active duty Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Alexandro Wiggins, who described a February 2023 encounter aboard the USS Jackson. Wiggins observed a Tic-Tac-shaped craft emerge from the ocean, joining three others in a synchronized formation before disappearing at incredible speeds, without typical aircraft traces.
The collective testimonies highlighted a troubling pattern of retaliation against military personnel who report UFO encounters. Borland noted that other intelligence officers had also experienced similar retaliation. He alleged that the intelligence community had engaged in phishing attacks to monitor his disclosures during a polygraph test.
Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, chairwoman of the task force, condemned the fear among military pilots regarding reporting incidents. “We cannot protect our airspace if our best-trained observers are silenced,” she asserted. Luna emphasized the need for transparency to advance scientific inquiry and maintain public trust in the government.
The hearing marked a significant moment in the ongoing discourse about UFOs, as military officials and lawmakers grapple with the implications of these phenomena. The testimonies reflect a growing demand for accountability and clarity in the face of unexplained aerial encounters, as the quest for truth continues.