Pentagon drops UFO files including Apollo reports of lights 'sailing off into space' in 1969

WASHINGTON, DC: The Pentagon on Friday, May 8, began releasing declassified files related to unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), commonly referred to as UFOs, in a move the Trump administration said is aimed at increasing public transparency.

The release follows weeks of anticipation after President Donald Trump said “very interesting documents” would soon be made public.

Officials said the materials, some of which date back decades, are now available through a dedicated government portal, with additional files expected in phases.

The release marks one of the most extensive public disclosures of government-held UAP material in recent years, reigniting interest in a subject that has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers, scientists and the public alike.

Pentagon launches public archive of UAP records

According to Pentagon Public Affairs, the first batch of files includes videos, photographs and source documents gathered from across multiple federal agencies.

The Defense Department said the archive is intended to centralize declassified UAP-related records for public access.

“The American people can now access the federal government’s declassified UAP files instantly,” the Pentagon said in a statement. “The latest UAP videos, photos, and original source documents from across the entire United States government are all in one place, no clearance required.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also described the disclosure as part of the administration’s transparency efforts, saying the Pentagon was aligned with Trump’s directive on the issue.

“The Department of War is in lockstep with President Trump to bring unprecedented transparency regarding our government’s understanding of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena,” Hegseth wrote on X.

“These files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation, and it’s time the American people see it for themselves,” he added. Hegseth said the document release demonstrates the administration’s “earnest commitment to unprecedented transparency.”

Officials said additional materials will be uploaded “on a rolling basis” as reviews continue. However, the Pentagon noted that while the files have undergone security screening, many have not yet been fully analyzed. 

“While all of the files have been reviewed for security purposes, many of the materials have not yet been analyzed for resolution of any anomalies,” the department said.

Apollo mission records among newly released documents

Among the newly released materials are reports linked to NASA’s Apollo missions, including Apollo 12 and Apollo 17.

According to the documents, Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean reported observing “flashes of light” during the 1969 mission, describing them as “sailing off into space.”

Files from Apollo 17, NASA’s final moon mission in 1972, also detail crew observations of “jagged” points of light that were reportedly “tumbling” and “rotating way out in the distance.”

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman welcomed the release and emphasized the agency’s scientific role in reviewing unexplained phenomena.

“At NASA, our job is to bring the brightest minds and most advanced scientific instruments to bear, follow the data, and share what we learn,” Isaacman wrote on X. “We will remain candid about what we know to be true, what we have yet to understand, and all that remains to be discovered.”