Navy: UFO files could cause "grave damage" to national security if released
CBS News 1/14/2020 Brandon Specktor
© Credit: CBSNews 1223-satno-kluger-ufochat-1468474-640x360.jpg
In November 2004, several U.S. Navy pilots stationed aboard the USS Nimitz encountered a Tic-Tac-shaped UFO darting and dashing over the Pacific Ocean in apparent defiance of the laws of physics. Navy officials dubbed the strange craft an "unidentified aerial phenomenon," but they have remained mum on what, exactly, that phenomenon could've been. Now, unsurprisingly to anyone who's ever considered making a hat out of tinfoil, the military has confirmed they know more than they're letting on.
In response to a recent Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, a spokesperson from the Navy's Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) confirmed that the agency possesses several top-secret documents and at least one classified video pertaining to the 2004 UFO encounter, Vice reported.
According to the ONI spokesperson, these documents were either labeled "SECRET" or "TOP SECRET" by the agencies that provided them, and that sharing the information with the public "would cause exceptionally grave damage to the National Security of the United States."
These top-secret files included several "briefing slides" about the incident, provided to the ONI by an unnamed agency. (Because ONI officials did not classify the slides personally, they are unable to declassify them, the spokesperson added).
The ONI also admitted to possessing at least one video of unknown length, classified as "secret" by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). ONI didn't reveal whether this footage is the same 1-minute video that was leaked online in 2007 and widely released by The New York Times in 2017. However, in November 2019, several naval officers who witnessed the incident aboard the Nimitz told Popular Mechanics that they had seen a much longer video of the encounter that was between 8 and 10 minutes long. These original recordings were promptly collected and erased by "unknown individuals" who arrived on the ship by helicopter shortly after the incident, one officer said.
Commuter train slams into tractor-trailer near New York City
The truck got stuck on the tracks after trying to make a tight right turn.
Trump defense team preparing 'aggressive' response to House impeachment manager arguements
Reaction and analysis from Democratic strategist Richard Goodstein and Fox News contributor Andy McCarthy.
What was the Pentagon's secret UFO program looking for?
What to watch next
CBS News 4:55
ABC News 0:09
FOX News 7:09
How Democrats are navigating the Senate impeachment trial
Democrats and Republicans craft strategy for impeachment trial
NBC News 5:17
MSNBC 1:43
Schiff says Trump withheld aid to 'cheat' election
The Washington Post 2:01
Traveller leaves Wuhan despite city lockdown after new virus outbreak
USA TODAY 1:21
Hill.TV's Saagar Enjeti rips Sanders for 'inability to actually fight with bad actors' in party
The Hill 0:48
Trump lashes out at Democrats
Sen. Daines on Trump's call to 'go the long way'
Luis Elizondo, a former Pentagon staffer who helped make the Navy video public, told Vice that "people should not be surprised by the revelation that other videos exist and at greater length."
The FOIA request, submitted in October 2019 by an independent researcher, asked for access to any nonclassified records or portions of records regarding the 2004 UFO encounter. No additional documents were mentioned in the ONI's response besides the classified briefing and video.
More from CBS News
Kentucky miners block coal train over missed paychecks
U.S. firefighters lend a hand in Australia as bushfires ravage the country
Senior citizens are shacking up with roommates to make ends meet