Most of the 41 files released on Friday are grainy recordings taken by cameras or sensors from US military planes, often during missions in the Middle East, of flying lights, orbs and other types of unidentified flying objects.
The recordings come from the Pentagon, FBI, CIA, State Department and President Donald Trump's office. The oldest material dates back to the 1950s, the newest files are from this year, CBS News reports.
“Did you see that?”
Among the highlights is the testimony of a former US military pilot in 2024. In a recorded interview, the pilot talks about an experience in Afghanistan in 2002.
"At approximately 4:30 a.m. local time, the subject noted that the stars above Bagram were darkening. It appeared as if something enormously large was passing overhead, from west to east, in the shape of an equilateral triangle. The object flew silently, at a constant speed and altitude, possibly 150 knots (about 270 km/h), with no visible lights," the Pentagon writes.
Another pilot is also said to have observed the object and said, "Did you see that?" when it passed, the Pentagon notes.
Will seek the truth
Friday's publication of previously classified documents about phenomena that could come from outer space will not be the last under President Trump, a Pentagon spokesperson promises.
The Pentagon does not take a position on the nature of the observations, the agency points out on its website, adding:
"We will seek the truth and share our findings with the American people."
