Over the Pacific Ocean, UFO fleets appeared to dozens of planes

Pilots Describe ‘Bright Lights Moving in Elongated Circles’ Over the Pacific

In a recently released documentary, veteran aviators and air-traffic controllers provide jaw-dropping firsthand accounts of UFO-like phenomena soaring high above the Pacific Ocean. Flight crews en route from Japan and Hawaii to the U.S. West Coast reported clusters of luminous objects circling near the Ursa Major constellation for hours—prompting urgent radio calls and widespread speculation. Below, we unpack these dramatic recordings, analyze pilot testimonies, explore plausible explanations, and examine why aviation authorities lag in addressing such mysterious sightings.

Documentary Unveils Pacific UFO Encounters

A team of documentary filmmakers gained access to U.S. air-traffic control (ATC) audio logs and pilot interviews, shining a spotlight on mid-air mysteries that defy conventional logic. During flights in August and September, crews noted:

Clusters of Lights: Between three and seven bright points, moving in synchronized, elongated loops.
Extended Duration: Unlike fleeting meteor showers, these lights maintained a fixed relative position near Ursa Major for hours.
High Altitude: Pilots estimated the objects soared 5,000 to 10,000 feet above their cruising altitude—well into near-space territory.

These consistent patterns across multiple flights and airframes form the backbone of the documentary’s central claim: a genuine unexplained aerial phenomenon over the Pacific.

Pilot Testimonies: What the Crew Saw

Veteran aviators—some with fighter-jet backgrounds—describe scenes that read like science fiction:

“We’ve got some planes going north here and they’re circling at a much higher altitude than we are… Any idea what they are?”
– Mark Hulsey, Gulfstream charter pilot, over Los Angeles airspace

He phoned the Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) twice, first identifying three objects, then seven as they appeared. Hulsey’s Marine Corps F-18 experience lends weight:

“I’ve done a lot of interceptions. I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Similarly, Chris Van Voorhis, flying from Honolulu to L.A., recounted:

“They were lights that turned on very brightly, moved, then went off. Every time I looked, they hovered in the same corner of the Big Dipper—no matter our position.”

His calm, almost clinical description belies the strangeness of the sighting:

“It went on so long it became almost boring.”

With roughly half his pilot friends reporting anomalies, Van Voorhis sees a global pattern:

“From west of Japan to east of Miami, pilots spot these things. It’s a worldwide phenomenon.”

Air Traffic Control Transcripts: Drama in the Skies

The ATC recordings amplify the tension:

Initial Alert: “Gulfstream 45, confirm you’re seeing unidentified contacts at FL350?”
Pilot Response: “Affirmative. Multiple lights in tight formation, circling.”
Controller Note: “Advise your altitude and heading changes are safe. We have no traffic filed in that block.”

At one point, an ATC supervisor acknowledged:

“We’re monitoring—no known military or commercial objects in the area.”

These logs underscore the urgency—and the genuine perplexity—of controllers accustomed to routine traffic.

Elongated Circles Near Ursa Major: Mapping the Phenomenon

Analysts pinpointed the location against celestial landmarks:

Reference Constellation: Ursa Major (the Big Dipper) served as a navigational guidepost.
Consistent Positioning: Despite aircraft drift, the lights stayed near the same star cluster.
Looping Trajectories: Rather than straight-line transit, the objects traced long, racetrack-style loops.

Such behavior starkly contrasts satellites (which travel linear paths) and meteors (brief streaks), hinting at controlled, sustained flight.

Pilot Credibility: Experts Weigh In

Skeptics often dismiss civilian sightings, but these aviators boast:

Professional Training: Military and charter pilots undergo rigorous identification protocols—mistaking Venus for a UFO is rare.
Instrument Cross-Checks: Teams compared visual sightings with onboard radar and ADS-B data; no conventional targets appeared.
Peer Collaboration: Multiple crews on overlapping routes reported identical anomalies, ruling out individual hallucinations or equipment failure.

Their collective credibility raises the bar for what constitutes a legitimate “unknown.”

Potential Explanations: From Drones to Extraterrestrials

Before declaring alien invasion, let’s explore earthly—and cosmic—possibilities:

Military Test Flights or Drones

Secret UAVs: The Pentagon’s experimental drones (e.g., RQ-180) could execute high-altitude loops—but usually leave contrails or radio signatures.
Satellite Reflections: Large satellite clusters like Starlink have drawn attention, yet satellites drift linearly and rarely cluster so densely.

Atmospheric Phenomena

Ball Lightning: Rare, luminous spheres sometimes appear during storms—but sustained loops and stable group formations don’t fit.
Lenticular Clouds with Sun Glint: Mountain-induced clouds can mimic discs in sunlight, but behave as static formations, not circling fleets.

Genuine UFOs (Unidentified)

Extraterrestrial Craft: If truly not of Earth, the objects’ precise looping suggests advanced anti-gravity propulsion or warp-field technology.
Interdimensional Entities: Some theorists posit cross-dimensional travelers biding time in Earth’s near-space before entry.

While we lack definitive proof, the repeated patterns and professional witnesses demand a thorough scientific inquiry.

Reporting Gaps: Why Aviation Lacks UFO Protocols

Despite regular sightings, no standardized reporting system exists for Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) in commercial aviation:

Safety vs. Secrecy: Pilots fear ridicule or grounded licenses if they report strange lights. Airlines discourage non-safety-related anomalies.
No Federal Mandate: Unlike near-miss incidents, UAP reports aren’t compulsory under FAA regulations.
Fragmented Data: Without a central repository, sightings vanish into private logs or informal forums—lost to future analysis.

The documentary’s experts call for an official UAP reporting channel—akin to NASA’s impending Office of UAP Research—integrated into ATC systems to safeguard both transparency and national security.

Implications for Aviation and Beyond

These Pacific sightings carry weighty consequences:

Air Safety: Untracked objects at flight levels threaten collision risks. Pilots need clear guidance on evasive maneuvers and reporting steps.
Scientific Discovery: Studying these anomalies could yield breakthroughs in propulsion, atmospheric physics, or even extraterrestrial biology.
Public Perception: As governments declassify UFO files, trusting authorities to handle sensitive information becomes paramount to avoid panic.

By framing UAP as legitimate research subjects rather than fringe oddities, the aviation community can foster open dialogue and rigorous investigation.

Conclusion

The dramatic accounts of “bright lights moving in elongated circles” over the Pacific Ocean—captured by seasoned pilots and echoed in ATC recordings—challenge us to rethink our skies. Whether advanced drones, atmospheric mirages, or genuine interstellar visitors, these sightings underscore a glaring gap in how aviation handles the unknown. By advocating formal UAP reporting protocols, embracing scientific scrutiny, and respecting pilot testimonies, we can move from sensational headlines to substantive understanding. After all, the greatest discoveries often begin with a question dangling high above the horizon—waiting for us to look up and listen.