Slow-Falling Object Over Alaska: UFO Crash or Condensation Trail?
A Bizarre Morning in Palmer
Imagine stepping outside at dawn, coffee in hand, and spotting a dark streak cutting straight down through the rosy sky. That’s what happened to Mattias Ahlvin on November 3rd, 2022, in Palmer, Alaska. He describes seeing what looked like a smoke column—thick, gray, and unnaturally vertical. Grabbing his phone, he snapped two photos about 45 seconds apart, only to discover the streak hadn’t moved far. Too slow for a meteor, too odd for any conventional aircraft. What was it?
Eyewitness Photos and the Video Reveal
Mattias’s wife, Elisabeth, posted the images on a local Facebook page, sparking theories about rockets, volcanic eruptions, and military tests. Meanwhile, UFO enthusiast Scott C. Waring took notice. In his latest video, Waring zooms in on the dark plume and claims to spot a damaged, disk‐shaped craft descending toward Lazy Mountain. According to Waring, this isn’t a condensation trail—it’s a UFO slipping into an underground alien base carved within the mountain itself. Intrigued? Let’s unpack the sighting and examine every angle.

Contrails vs. UFOs: Official Explanations
Before we dive into high‐strangeness, let’s consider what experts said. Alaska State Troopers, aviation authorities, and the National Weather Service pointed to a condensation trail—an ice‐crystal cloud left by a high‐flying plane. In the glow of sunrise, that thin trail can look smoky and even dark against a brightening horizon.
- Condensation Trails Defined: When an aircraft’s hot exhaust meets frigid upper‐atmosphere air, water vapor condenses into ice crystals, forming a visible streak.
- Sunrise Illumination: At dawn, sunlight filters at a low angle, tinting contrails golden, pink, or even gray, depending on moisture and particle density.
- Flight Path Considerations: Airliners often climb steeply after take‐off, momentarily tracing near‐vertical lines.
Why a Meteor and Military Tests Don’t Fit
Could it have been space debris burning up or a hypersonic missile test? Let’s rule them out:
- Meteor Mechanics: Meteors blaze across the sky in seconds, often traveling hundreds of miles per hour. Mattias’s photos, taken 45 seconds apart, show the object barely shifting—too slow for any known meteoroid.
- Government Transparency in Weapons Testing: The U.S. military routinely publicizes hypersonic tests—sometimes even inviting foreign intel to watch. No NOTAM (notice to airmen) or press release mentioned rocket firings or test launches near Palmer on that date.
Scott Waring’s UFO Hypothesis
Enter Scott C. Waring, known for uncovering alleged crashed spacecraft worldwide. In his video, Waring highlights a faint, rounded silhouette embedded in the smoke column—what he calls the “disk.” He argues:
- Shape and Shadow: The blurred outline looks too circular and hefty to be a contrail.
- Slow Descent: A controlled, gliding motion rather than free‐fall suggests intelligent piloting.
- Destination Clue: Lazy Mountain, Waring claims, conceals an underground base—perhaps part of a global network of alien installations.

Lazy Mountain: An Alleged Alien Hub?
Oddly enough, locals have whispered about clandestine activity around Lazy Mountain for years. Hikers report odd electromagnetic readings, sudden temperature drops, and deep rumbling sounds that can’t be traced to wildlife or geology. Could an alien craft be using a hidden cavern as a docking bay? Waring points to:
- Topographical Anomalies: Steep granite faces and natural arches that might mask a man‐made entrance.
- Historical Legends: Early Alaskan settlers spoke of shimmering lights in the sky near Palmer—stories dismissed as aurora borealis by scientific skeptics.
Analyzing the Photos: What Do We Really See?
Let’s zoom in on what Mattias captured:
- Image One: A thick, dark plume arching slightly to the east. No wavy edges or feathering typical of ice crystals in contrails.
- Image Two (45 Seconds Later): The plume remains nearly stationary, with the lower edge dipping slightly—as if pulled by gravity.
Are these details enough to dump the condensation theory? Not conclusively—but they sure raise questions:
- Consistent Density: Contrails tend to dissipate and widen quickly. Here, the column stays compact.
- Lack of Dispersion: In calm dawn air, contrails can linger, but they still smear out. This smoke‐like column holds form.

Could It Be Industrial Smoke?
One more grounded possibility: a factory or power plant belch. Yet no industrial facilities lie directly north of Palmer. The nearest oil trains and biomass plants lie miles away—too distant to cast such a narrow column overhead. That makes the idea of routine human activity harder to swallow.
The Power of Citizen Science
Mattias’s quick thinking to photograph the sighting—and Waring’s viral video—highlight how amateur observations drive UFO research today. Smartphones, social media, and open platforms like MUFON empower anyone to become a skywatcher. However, to turn wild footage into solid evidence, we need:
- Multi‐Angle Confirmation: Encouraging multiple witnesses to share photos and timestamps.
- Scientific Collaboration: Partnering with atmospheric scientists to compare readings and weather data.
- Longitudinal Studies: Establishing observation networks around known hotspots like Lazy Mountain.
Embracing Uncertainty: A Call for Open Inquiry
Whether you lean toward atmospheric optics, alien landings, or experimental aircraft, the Lazy Mountain sighting reminds us that our skies still hold mysteries. Instead of mocking or dismissing every odd report, we should apply curiosity—and a dash of skepticism—to separate the wheat from the chaff. After all, every scientific breakthrough started with someone noticing something unexpected.
Conclusion
On November 12th, 2022, a slow‐falling, snake‐like column of light ignited debate in Dana Point, California. From seasoned meteorologists chalking it up to sunlit contrails to UFO hunters like Scott Waring pointing to a damaged saucer headed for a secret base, no single explanation satisfies everyone. Whether it turns out to be a simple atmospheric quirk or the first undeniable proof of extraterrestrial technology, this sighting underscores the thrill of looking up—and realizing we still have so much to learn about the skies above. Keep your eyes on the horizon: the truth might just be one snapshot away.