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On December 16, 2017, The New York Times published a groundbreaking front-page article titled “Glowing Auras and ‘Black Money’: The Pentagon’s Mysterious U.F.O. Program.” This report unveiled the existence of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), a previously undisclosed initiative within the U.S. Department of Defense dedicated to investigating unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) .
Details of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP)
AATIP was established in 2007 with a budget of $22 million, primarily at the behest of then-Senator Harry Reid. The program aimed to study aerial threats, including UAPs, and operated until its funding concluded in 2012. Despite its official termination, some reports suggest that investigations into UAPs continued under different auspices .
Luis Elizondo, a former military intelligence official, claimed to have led AATIP. He resigned in October 2017, citing excessive secrecy and internal opposition to the program’s objectives. Elizondo’s assertions have been both supported and contested within governmental circles, leading to ongoing debates about his exact role and the program’s scope .
Release of Navy Pilot Videos
The Times article was accompanied by declassified videos captured by U.S. Navy pilots, notably the “FLIR1,” “GIMBAL,” and “GOFAST” clips. These videos depict encounters with objects exhibiting flight characteristics that defy conventional aeronautics, such as sudden acceleration and lack of visible propulsion systems. The release of these videos provided tangible evidence that spurred public and governmental interest in UAPs .
Subsequent Developments and Institutional Responses
The 2017 revelations prompted a series of responses from various institutions:
- Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF): Established in 2020, this task force aimed to standardize the collection and reporting of UAP sightings across the U.S. military .
- All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO): Formed in 2022 as a successor to UAPTF, AARO expanded its investigative scope to include anomalies across all domains – air, sea, space, and land. In March 2024, AARO released a report stating that there was “no empirical evidence” to support claims of alien technology or hidden extraterrestrial artifacts within U.S. government archives .
Impact on Public Perception and Media Coverage
The New York Times article marked a significant shift in the discourse surrounding UAPs, transitioning the topic from fringe speculation to a subject of serious inquiry. The report’s credibility, bolstered by firsthand accounts from military personnel and corroborated by official documentation, challenged longstanding stigmas associated with UFO discussions .
the media’s portrayal of the findings has been met with criticism. Some commentators argue that the coverage lacked critical analysis and may have sensationalized the evidence without sufficient scrutiny. Concerns have been raised about the potential for misinterpretation and the need for more rigorous scientific evaluation of UAP data .
Looking Ahead
The 2017 New York Times exposé on AATIP and the accompanying Navy pilot videos served as a catalyst for renewed interest and institutional engagement with UAP phenomena. While the revelations have led to the establishment of dedicated investigative bodies and a broader public discourse, the quest for definitive explanations continues. The balance between open inquiry and critical analysis remains essential as the exploration of unidentified aerial phenomena progresses.
10 Best-Selling UFO and UAP Books
UFOs: Generals, Pilots, and Government Officials Go on the Record
This investigative work presents case-driven reporting on unidentified aerial phenomena, focusing on military and aviation encounters, official records, and the difficulties of validating unusual sightings. It frames UAP as a topic with operational and safety implications, while also examining how institutional incentives shape what gets documented, dismissed, or left unresolved in public view.
Communion
This memoir-style narrative describes a series of alleged close encounters and the personal aftermath that follows, including memory gaps, fear, and attempts to interpret what happened. The book became a landmark in modern UFO literature by shifting attention toward the subjective experience of contact and the lasting psychological disruption that can accompany claims of abduction.
Passport to Magonia: From Folklore to Flying Saucers
This classic argues that UFO reports can be read alongside older traditions of folklore, religious visions, and accounts of strange visitations. Rather than treating unidentified flying objects as only a modern technology story, it compares motifs across centuries and cultures, suggesting continuity in the narratives people use to describe anomalous encounters.
Hunt for the Skinwalker: Science Confronts the Unexplained at a Remote Ranch in Utah
This book recounts an investigation of recurring reports tied to a specific location, combining witness interviews, instrumentation, and field protocols. It mixes UFO themes with broader anomaly claims – unusual lights, apparent surveillance, and events that resist repeatable measurement – while documenting the limits of organized inquiry in unpredictable conditions.
The Day After Roswell
Framed around claims connected to the Roswell narrative, this book presents a storyline about recovered materials, classified handling, and alleged downstream effects on advanced technology programs. It is written as a retrospective account that blends personal testimony, national-security framing, and long-running debates about secrecy, documentation, and how extraordinary claims persist without transparent verification.
The UFO Experience: A Scientific Inquiry
Written by an astronomer associated with official UFO investigations, this book argues for treating UFO reports as data rather than tabloid spectacle. It discusses patterns in witness reports, classification of encounter types, and why a subset of cases remained unexplained after conventional screening. It remains a foundational text for readers interested in structured UFO investigations.
The Hynek UFO Report: The Authoritative Account of the Project Blue Book Cover-Up
This work focuses on how official investigations managed UFO case intake, filtering, and public messaging. It portrays a tension between internal curiosity and external pressure to reduce reputational risk, while highlighting cases that resisted straightforward explanations. For readers tracking UAP governance and institutional behavior, it offers a narrative about how “closed” cases can still leave unanswered questions.
In Plain Sight: An Investigation into UFOs and Impossible Science
This modern overview synthesizes well-known incidents, government acknowledgments, and evolving language from “UFO” to “UAP,” with emphasis on how public institutions communicate uncertainty. It also surveys recurring claims about performance characteristics, sensor data, and reporting pathways, while separating what is documented from what remains speculative in contemporary UAP discourse.
Abduction: Human Encounters with Aliens
Built around case studies, this book presents narratives from people who report being taken and examined by non-human entities. It approaches the topic through interviews and clinical framing, emphasizing consistency across accounts, emotional impact, and the difficulty of interpreting memories that emerge through recall techniques. It is a central title in the alien abduction subset of UFO books.
Missing Time: A Documented Study of UFO Abductions
This book introduced many mainstream readers to the concept of “missing time” and the investigative methods used to reconstruct reported events. It compiles recurring elements – time loss, intrusive memories, and perceived medical procedures – while arguing that the pattern is too consistent to dismiss as isolated fantasy. It remains widely read within UFO research communities focused on abduction claims.
