On Saturday night, several pilots reported witnessing unidentified flying objects (UFOs) in the skies west of Eugene, Oregon, according to an alleged recording of their communication with air traffic control. The 44-minute audio, which has surfaced online, includes descriptions of red, circular lights performing erratic maneuvers, raising questions about the nature of the objects.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that a pilot did report “seeing unidentified lights.” Analysis of the recording’s metadata and flight information provided by the speakers aligns with known flight records, lending credibility to the incident.
In the recording, one air traffic controller can be heard advising a pilot to “maneuver” around a UFO. Pilots described the objects as red lights that moved in erratic patterns toward the ocean before returning at various altitudes. One pilot noted that the objects appeared to be moving in corkscrew patterns and at extreme speeds, well beyond the capabilities of commercial aircraft. The maximum altitude mentioned, 50,000 feet, is typically reserved for advanced military jets like the F-22 fighter.
At approximately 8:46 p.m. PST, six minutes into the recording, another pilot, identifying himself as part of a MEDEVAC flight (a medical evacuation aircraft), contacted air traffic control. The pilot asked, “Is there traffic out about our 2 to 3 o’clock, at about, I don’t know, 20 or 30 miles?” Flight tracking data from flightradar24.com shows only one other aircraft near Eugene at that time: a Pilatus PC-12 NG, an air ambulance flying south over Albany, Oregon, just north of Eugene. This aircraft is believed to be the MEDEVAC referenced in the recording.
The MEDEVAC pilot described observing two objects: one at a high altitude and another at his own level. Both were moving in circular, corkscrew patterns, a flight behavior uncommon for any known aircraft.
The FAA has not commented on the origin or identity of the objects, focusing instead on confirming the report of “unidentified lights.” Military or weather balloon activity has not been ruled out, but no official explanation has been offered.
The nature of the objects—erratic movements, high-altitude flight, and unusual speed—has sparked speculation among aviation enthusiasts and UFO researchers. Some suggest the sightings could be advanced military technology, drones, or atmospheric phenomena, while others lean toward extraterrestrial possibilities.
This incident is part of a growing number of UFO sightings reported by both military and commercial pilots in recent years. In 2021, the U.S. government released a long-awaited report on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), acknowledging the existence of objects that defy conventional explanations but stopping short of attributing them to extraterrestrial sources.
As investigations continue, the Eugene sightings serve as another puzzle in the ongoing exploration of UFO phenomena. Whether these objects represent advanced technology, natural phenomena, or something else entirely, the incident highlights the need for further study and transparency in understanding unidentified aerial events.