Taken right from API’s own case files, we show many examples of common IFOs on this new page. The more you and everyone else knows about these misidentifications, the more we can reduce the noise level in the field. Please review the page and let us know what would make it more useful to you. We intend to update it frequently.
Released: 5 January 2017
Runtime: 64 minutes, 9 seconds
API Case Files is the official podcast of Aerial Phenomena Investigations.
Antonio, Paul and Marsha discuss the attributes of what they’re looking for in prospective investigators to join the API Team; that discussion began with the scientific and academic communities extreme reticence to engage in UAP and anomalous phenomena research.
Date of Sighting: 02/09/2013
Time of Sighting: 1 second
Duration of Event: 1 second
Location of UFO: Represa (neer), Castelo Branco, Portugal
Shape of Object: Balloon
UFO Report: I was in the car back from holidays. It was at night and when I was looking at the other side of the window, to the dark sky, I suddenly saw a thing, bigger than a “shooting” star, and it pass very quickly, for about 1 second. When that phenomenon over, I couldn´t stop thinking what it would be … If everyone have an explanation for this phenomenon
Evidence Submitted: Photo
Investigative Status: Information Only. API does not investigate anonymous reports.
Object Details: Unresolved
Date of Sighting: between august 11 and september 1st 1995
Time of Sighting: from aprox. 00:00 till 00:55
Duration of Event: almost an hour
Location of UFO: along the entire coast of the Netherlands, between kijkduin and scheveningen (The Hague)
Shape of Object: Balloon
UFO Report: During a month long beach party that year a large group remaining one night saw a cylinder form object following the coastline very slowly. as doing so sending green forensic signals down, that bounced back in a 25 degree angle back up to the object. Object also had a green foresic light outline and what looked like windows with the same color lighting. We all watched in shock as we clearly realized this was too low to be a satellite in orbit, and puzzled by the visual signals going back and forth.
Evidence Submitted: None
Investigative Status: TBD
Object Details: Unresolved
Date of Sighting: 06/15/2013
Time of Sighting: 11:00-11:30AM
Duration of Event: About 5-10 Minutes that I watched it. Was there before I got there.
Location of UFO: Near Silver Spring Dr and North Lovers Lane over wooded park-way on Silver Spring Dr Milwaukee, WI 53225
Shape of Object: Balloon
UFO Report: I was coming home walking west up Silver Spring Dr, got halfway home in front of wooded area Little Menomonee Park-way on Silver Spring Dr when I looked up and seen a large dark gold metallic object over the parkway side. I felt shocked at first and even walked as fast as I could towards it too get a good look. I looked for other people so I could ask what is that, but very few walk up that street during that time of day. I looked at the traffic to see if anyone was stopping to look there was traffic going west, but no one noticed it or they just didn’t care. I seen one when I was a child, but this one was a differant type of craft the one in my childhood popped from one side to another in the sky and was amazing I have that one on my mind ever since then over 40 years ago, and never forget it still trying to remember every detail. Also when I was a teenager I seen UFO’s being followed by jets in Muskego Park in Wisconsin not alone that time there was a group of us in that park drinking and not supposed to even be there we all witnessed something awesome the buzz from the beer had already wore off I wasn’t the first one to see them a boy from my school spotted it we all got together and watched in amazement there was 6to 8 in the night sky looked like stars at first until they flew all over the place and then either jets or something was chasing them away. One of the guys did report it to the airport never forgot that one either. But this time I am an adult saying out loud what are the chances of this again within my lifetime so I watched closely it looked at first like a mylar balloon, but it was a day with no wind at all I became aware while watching it was like it was just painted on the sky stood still not moving at all. Did not see any like windows or landing gear or anything at all . Was thinking it can’t be a balloon it was under a cloud and it was like big I taught if it came down it would be at least if not larger the size of a house. I wanted to wave at it like hello, but I was thinking it might think I’m doing something to harm it. It stayed there for a long time I had to go because I was bringing home food in my little granny cart and i had to get it home it was a warm day. When I walked away I kept watching as I walked and it suddenly started flying like a plane heading southeast still no wind at all. When I walked farther I taught I should still see it on the other side of the woods, it was gone. I went home told my 26yr old son what happened he said sit down you have been in the sun to long didn’t believe any of it just like my cousin when I was a child trying to tell him too he said don’t ever tell anyone else they will think your crazy. Well I could care less what anyone thinks now because I’m not closed minded like most people are. I know its real and think the goverment has always known maybe just can’t take the chance of letting the world know because closed minded people would not be able to handle such a thing and our world is already out of control in so many ways. I know that this isn’t a recent sighting just wanted to finally tell someone who won’t judge me a being silly for telling them what I know is true. Any way to make a long story even longer I had seen a UFO on You Tube recently this is now 5 months since I seen it and I seen it on there and it looks just like it. Also I went to Google when that sighting happened and reported it on some site and found someone else from Menomonee Falls and one other person southeast of here who also seen it. So I’m not alone in my crazyness. Just taught about the way that thing was up there overlooking our traffic and then seen me pushing a cart full of food maybe taking pictures of me to take to there world to show there kind this is what those ET’s on the blue planet do, kinda funny!!! Well I take my video camera with me now, but the chances of seeing that again may not happen again still kicking myself because it would have been a great one. Never seen that coming, but glad I did it’s like they came to say you were right all these years about what you experienced as a child because as an adult I know it’s true.
Evidence Submitted: None
Initial Action: Case assigned as an AN1.
Investigation and Findings: Information Only
Object Details: Unresolved
Synopsis: The witness of this investigation saw and took a photo of a strange black object in the sky. According to the witness, the object appeared like a balloon.
Evidence Submitted: Photo
Initial Action: Case opened as an AN1.
Investigation and Findings: API identified the object as a man-made “solar hot air balloon”. These mini hot air balloons are made from trash bags and heated by the sun. Once airborne, the object will float with the wind until sunset or sunlight is obscured by clouds. These objects, moreover, can travel a long distance and are often reported as “black UFOs.”
Object Details: Man-made object.
Synopsis: On April 6th, 2013, the witness of this investigation used a camera to take a photo of unknown objects hovering over Baltimore, MD.
Evidence Submitted: Original photo.
Initial Action: Case opened as an AN1.
Investigation and Findings: This investigation is closed.
Object Details: Investigator, two API colleagues and the NOAA official are in agreement that the object videotaped by the witness is most probably a high altitude ham balloon launch.
Synopsis: On 06 Jan 12, at 1830 hours, the witness of this investigation was driving through Los Angeles, CA and saw a UFO fly over the city. The witness used a cellphone to record a video of the UFO.
Evidence Submitted: A Video of the UFO.
Initial Action: This UFO case was opened as an FB1 – A fly-by of a UFO traveling in a straight line across the sky. Initial analysis of the video indicated the object was a helium balloon.
Investigation and Findings: The investigators interview the witness of this investigation to ensure the video was authentic. An analysis of the video appears to show a helium balloon flying with the wind. A super zoom of the video, moreover, clearly showed a string attached to the bottom of the helium balloon. The case was closed as resolved and identified.
Object Details: Helium Balloon
Synopsis: On 14 April 12, at 1630 hours, the witness of this investigation was sitting outside a condominium complex and saw a metallic gold UFO in the sky. According to the witness, the UFO was shaped like a donut and appeared to be dragging a line or string.
Evidence Submitted: 13 photos of the UFO.
Initial Action: This UFO investigation was opened as an FB1, a fly-by of a UFO that traveled in a straight line across the sky. A preliminary analysis of the report indicated a possible balloon or blimp.
Investigation and Findings: According to the witness, the UFO was metallic gold and was moving along with the wind. The UFO, moreover, appeared to have been dragging a string or a rope. The Investigators took a tour of the Hoboken, NJ area and found a party store named Party City and purchased a “Zero Gold Helium Balloon”, which was identical to the UFO photographed by the witness. The investigators concluded the UFO was nothing more than a party balloon.
Object Details: A Gold Helium Balloon
Synopsis: On 18 Sep 11, while observing a jetliner flying over Hoboken, NJ, the witness of this investigation spotted a bright white object that appeared motionless. The object was directly above the witness at a high altitude above the clouds. The witness observed the object for about three minutes to see if it was stationary by comparing it to the adjacent building. Using a Canon digital camera and a tripod, the witness took 12 consecutive photos of the UFO until it completely moved behind the cloud coverage.
Evidence Submitted: 12 Photos of the UFO.
Initial Action: This UFO case was opened as an MA1, a visual sighting of a UFO that traveled in a discontinuous trajectory, such as loops, quick turns, or vast changes in altitude. A preliminary analysis of the photo indicated balloons.
Investigation and Findings: The investigators interviewed the witness of this investigation multiple times. The investigators, moreover, researched military high-altitude “persistence surveillance” balloons and blimps as the primary object. According to research, the Lakehurst to Picatinny, NJ corridor is home to an array of classified defense contractors competing for Department of Defense aerial surveillance drones and blimps. Moreover, according to open source documents, there are several defense contractors at Lakehurst testing high-altitude inflatable drones. However, all investigative efforts were exhausted and it appears the object is nothing more than helium party balloons.
Object Details: Balloons.