The U.S. Defense Department released a second set of declassified UFO files on May 22, comprising 222 documents that include reports of green orbs, discs and fireballs. One 116-page file details 209 sightings near the Sandia, New Mexico facility from 1948–1950. Officials call the materials records of "unidentified anomalous phenomena," while experts say the additional footage and reports do not constitute proof of extraterrestrial technology.
US Releases Second Batch Of Declassified UFO Files — 209 Sightings Reported Near Sandia
A football-shaped body reported by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in 2024 is seen as part of a series of documents of unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAP) released by the U.S. Defense Department on May 8, 2026. Department of Defense/Handout via REUTERS
May 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. Defense Department on Friday released a second batch of formerly classified files documenting alleged UFO encounters, including reports of unexplained green orbs, discs and fireballs.
What Was Released
The new package includes 222 files, one of which is a 116-page dossier covering reported sightings and related investigations at a top-secret facility in Sandia, New Mexico, from 1948 to 1950. According to the department, that file alone contains accounts of 209 sightings described as "green orbs," "discs" and "fireballs" near the military base.
Why Now
The initial release of declassified material was ordered by President Donald Trump on May 8. Officials say this disclosure continues a process that began in the late 1970s to make historical records of unidentified encounters accessible to the public.
Official Statements and Reactions
"It's time the American people see it for themselves," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a statement accompanying the release.
Officials describe the records, photos and videos as documentation of "unidentified anomalous phenomena." Analysts and outside experts cautioned that while the files add detail and include additional footage of previously known incidents, they do not provide conclusive evidence of extraterrestrial technology.
Context
Interest in declassified UFO materials has increased in recent years, driven by both public curiosity and government-led reviews of aerial sightings. The newly released files are intended to improve transparency about past encounters and investigations, although they leave many questions unanswered.
Note: The documents are historical in nature and include eyewitness reports and military investigations; experts emphasize that eyewitness accounts and vintage footage require careful analysis before drawing firm conclusions.
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