Phoenix Lights (13 March 1997)
Introduction
The Phoenix Lights of 13 March 1997 represent one of the most extensively documented mass UFO sighting events in American history. Thousands of witnesses across Arizona and Nevada reported anomalous aerial phenomena over several hours. The scale of the event — combined with initial government non-disclosure and a governor''s later reversal — gave the incident lasting cultural significance. A careful review of the evidence reveals two distinct events with distinct explanations, neither of which requires extraterrestrial technology.
Event One: The V-Formation (8:15–8:30 p.m.)
The first event was a large, slow-moving V-formation of lights reported by witnesses from Henderson, Nevada southward through the Phoenix metropolitan area to Tucson. Witnesses consistently described five lights in a V or boomerang shape, moving silently at low altitude. Multiple trained observers, including a former Arizona governor, described the formation as unlike any conventional aircraft they had seen.
The explanation most consistent with the evidence is five A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft flying in formation from a base to the north. The A-10''s distinctive wing shape and the spacing of its navigation lights can produce exactly the V-pattern described. At the altitudes and speeds involved, the aircraft would appear nearly silent to ground observers due to sound propagation geometry.
Event Two: The Stationary Lights (9:30–10:00 p.m.)
The second event — widely photographed and videotaped — consisted of a row of stationary amber lights appearing over the Estrella Mountains south of Phoenix. These lights appeared, held position, then extinguished one by one. The visual signature is precisely consistent with high-altitude illumination flares descending slowly under parachute.
The US Air Force subsequently confirmed that the Maryland Air National Guard''s 175th Fighter Squadron was conducting Operation Snowbird training exercises at Barry Goldwater Range south of Phoenix that evening. LUU-2B/B flares were dropped during the exercise. The Estrella Mountains, visible from Phoenix, placed the flares at an angle that made them appear to hover above the mountain ridgeline from urban vantage points. The mountains themselves obscured the flares'' descent, making the eventual extinguishing appear sudden and mysterious.
The Governor''s Press Conference and Reversal
Arizona Governor Fife Symington III held a press conference on 10 June 1997 in which he produced a staff member dressed in an alien costume, mocking the incident. This response was widely criticised. In 2007, a decade later, Symington gave an interview stating that he had personally observed the V-formation on the night of 13 March and that it was ''otherworldly'' in appearance. He did not claim to know its origin.
Symington''s reversal is frequently cited as evidence of a cover-up. It is more parsimoniously explained as a politician who was personally impressed by what he saw but chose public mockery over public alarm in 1997, then felt free to speak candidly a decade after leaving office.
Why the Event Persists as a Mystery
Several factors sustain the Phoenix Lights as a cultural touchstone:
- The V-formation event (Event One) has not been definitively traced to specific aircraft with tail numbers and flight logs that are publicly accessible, leaving a documentation gap that conspiracy framings exploit.
- The scale of the second event — visible to potentially a million people in the Phoenix metro area — made it feel too large to be a military exercise.
- The government''s initial non-disclosure (the flare explanation took months to emerge) created a credibility gap.
Verdict
Partially true. The events of 13 March 1997 were real and extensively witnessed. The explanation for Event Two (flares) is well-supported by USAF confirmation and consistent with the visual evidence. Event One (A-10 formation) is the stronger of the two remaining interpretive questions but has no credible evidence supporting extraterrestrial origin. The combined evidence does not support the extraterrestrial-craft interpretation of either event.
What Would Change Our Verdict
- USAF release of flight logs for Event One identifying the specific aircraft
- Physical evidence of a craft of non-human manufacture from the 1997 site
- Radar data from Sky Harbor or Davis-Monthan AFB showing an unidentified contact on 13 March 1997
Evidence Filters8
Thousands of witnesses across Arizona reported the V-formation
SupportingEvent One (the V-formation) was observed by thousands of witnesses from Henderson, Nevada through the Phoenix metropolitan area to Tucson. The scale and consistency of the reports — described by witnesses including trained observers and a former governor — make the occurrence of an anomalous aerial formation beyond reasonable dispute.
Rebuttal
The reality of a large-scale aerial event is not disputed. The interpretation of that event as extraterrestrial remains unsupported. A V-formation of A-10s flying at altitude over a wide geographic area would produce consistent sightings along the flight path.
USAF confirmed LUU-2B/B flares for Event Two
DebunkingStrongThe US Air Force confirmed that the Maryland Air National Guard's 175th Fighter Squadron dropped LUU-2B/B illumination flares during Operation Snowbird training at Barry Goldwater Range south of Phoenix on the evening of 13 March 1997. The visual signature of these flares — stationary amber lights descending under parachute — precisely matches the Event Two descriptions.
Estrella Mountains obscured the flares' descent
DebunkingStrongThe Estrella Mountains, located south of Phoenix and in the line of sight between the Barry Goldwater Range and the metropolitan area, obscured the base of the flares' descent from urban vantage points. This made the lights appear to hover above the ridgeline and extinguish suddenly — enhancing the mystery for viewers who could not see the mountains' relationship to the flares.
Governor Symington's 2007 admission he saw the formation
SupportingWeakGovernor Fife Symington III, who had publicly mocked the Phoenix Lights reports in 1997 at a press conference featuring a costumed alien, stated in a 2007 interview that he personally observed the V-formation and found it 'otherworldly.' This admission undermined public trust in the 1997 official response.
Rebuttal
Symington's personal impression that the formation appeared otherworldly does not constitute evidence of extraterrestrial origin. A large formation of A-10s with navigation lights visible at night would be an unusual and impressive visual even to an experienced observer. His admission of personal observation is not an endorsement of the ET interpretation.
A-10 Thunderbolts in formation: explanation for Event One
DebunkingStrongThe V-formation's speed, altitude, and light pattern are consistent with five A-10 Thunderbolt IIs flying in a V formation. The A-10's navigation light positions and wing geometry produce a V-shaped light pattern at distance. At altitude, jet engine noise is significantly attenuated for ground observers.
No radar confirmation of unknown craft
DebunkingSky Harbor International Airport and nearby military radar installations did not publicly report tracking an unidentified object on 13 March 1997 that could not be explained as conventional traffic or the known military exercise.
Initial non-disclosure created credibility gap
SupportingWeakThe flare explanation for Event Two took months to emerge publicly, creating a period during which witnesses had no official account. This gap fuelled the perception of a cover-up and gave the ET interpretation space to consolidate.
Rebuttal
Delayed explanation reflects the pace of military public affairs disclosure, not deliberate concealment of ET activity. The flare exercise was a routine training event that was not immediately connected to the civilian sightings.
No physical evidence of extraterrestrial craft
DebunkingStrongNo physical material, electromagnetic anomaly, or instrument reading from 13 March 1997 has been produced that is inconsistent with conventional human-made aircraft or flares and consistent with extraterrestrial technology.
Evidence Cited by Believers3
Thousands of witnesses across Arizona reported the V-formation
SupportingEvent One (the V-formation) was observed by thousands of witnesses from Henderson, Nevada through the Phoenix metropolitan area to Tucson. The scale and consistency of the reports — described by witnesses including trained observers and a former governor — make the occurrence of an anomalous aerial formation beyond reasonable dispute.
Rebuttal
The reality of a large-scale aerial event is not disputed. The interpretation of that event as extraterrestrial remains unsupported. A V-formation of A-10s flying at altitude over a wide geographic area would produce consistent sightings along the flight path.
Governor Symington's 2007 admission he saw the formation
SupportingWeakGovernor Fife Symington III, who had publicly mocked the Phoenix Lights reports in 1997 at a press conference featuring a costumed alien, stated in a 2007 interview that he personally observed the V-formation and found it 'otherworldly.' This admission undermined public trust in the 1997 official response.
Rebuttal
Symington's personal impression that the formation appeared otherworldly does not constitute evidence of extraterrestrial origin. A large formation of A-10s with navigation lights visible at night would be an unusual and impressive visual even to an experienced observer. His admission of personal observation is not an endorsement of the ET interpretation.
Initial non-disclosure created credibility gap
SupportingWeakThe flare explanation for Event Two took months to emerge publicly, creating a period during which witnesses had no official account. This gap fuelled the perception of a cover-up and gave the ET interpretation space to consolidate.
Rebuttal
Delayed explanation reflects the pace of military public affairs disclosure, not deliberate concealment of ET activity. The flare exercise was a routine training event that was not immediately connected to the civilian sightings.
Counter-Evidence5
USAF confirmed LUU-2B/B flares for Event Two
DebunkingStrongThe US Air Force confirmed that the Maryland Air National Guard's 175th Fighter Squadron dropped LUU-2B/B illumination flares during Operation Snowbird training at Barry Goldwater Range south of Phoenix on the evening of 13 March 1997. The visual signature of these flares — stationary amber lights descending under parachute — precisely matches the Event Two descriptions.
Estrella Mountains obscured the flares' descent
DebunkingStrongThe Estrella Mountains, located south of Phoenix and in the line of sight between the Barry Goldwater Range and the metropolitan area, obscured the base of the flares' descent from urban vantage points. This made the lights appear to hover above the ridgeline and extinguish suddenly — enhancing the mystery for viewers who could not see the mountains' relationship to the flares.
A-10 Thunderbolts in formation: explanation for Event One
DebunkingStrongThe V-formation's speed, altitude, and light pattern are consistent with five A-10 Thunderbolt IIs flying in a V formation. The A-10's navigation light positions and wing geometry produce a V-shaped light pattern at distance. At altitude, jet engine noise is significantly attenuated for ground observers.
No radar confirmation of unknown craft
DebunkingSky Harbor International Airport and nearby military radar installations did not publicly report tracking an unidentified object on 13 March 1997 that could not be explained as conventional traffic or the known military exercise.
No physical evidence of extraterrestrial craft
DebunkingStrongNo physical material, electromagnetic anomaly, or instrument reading from 13 March 1997 has been produced that is inconsistent with conventional human-made aircraft or flares and consistent with extraterrestrial technology.
Timeline
Two distinct events over Arizona: V-formation then stationary lights
Between 8:15 and 10:00 p.m., thousands of Arizonans observe two separate aerial phenomena: a V-shaped formation moving south from Nevada, and a line of stationary amber lights south of Phoenix. The events generate thousands of reports and are partially captured on video.
Governor Symington holds press conference with costumed alien
In response to ongoing public and media pressure, Governor Fife Symington III holds a press conference at which his aide emerges in an alien costume, mocking the incident. The gesture backfires and deepens public distrust of official explanations.
USAF confirms Operation Snowbird flares for Event Two
The US Air Force publicly confirms that the Maryland Air National Guard's 175th Fighter Squadron dropped LUU-2B/B illumination flares at Barry Goldwater Range during Operation Snowbird on the night of 13 March. The confirmation resolves the Event Two (stationary lights) mystery to the satisfaction of most investigators.
Source →Symington admits he personally saw the V-formation
In an interview a decade after leaving office, former Governor Fife Symington III states publicly that he observed the V-formation on the night of 13 March 1997 and found it an extraordinary sight. He does not endorse the ET interpretation but acknowledges the formation was unlike anything in his experience.
Source →
Verdict
The Phoenix Lights comprised two distinct events on 13 March 1997. Event Two (stationary amber lights) is well-explained by USAF-confirmed LUU-2B/B flares from Operation Snowbird at Barry Goldwater Range. Event One (V-formation) is consistent with A-10 aircraft in formation. Neither event has evidence supporting extraterrestrial origin, though the events themselves are real.
Frequently Asked Questions
Were the Phoenix Lights one event or two?
The Phoenix Lights comprised two distinct events separated by approximately an hour. Event One (8:15–8:30 p.m.) was a V-formation of lights moving south from Nevada through Phoenix to Tucson. Event Two (9:30–10:00 p.m.) was a row of stationary amber lights south of Phoenix over the Estrella Mountains. Each event has a separate explanation.
What explained the stationary lights (Event Two)?
The US Air Force confirmed that the Maryland Air National Guard's 175th Fighter Squadron dropped LUU-2B/B illumination flares during Operation Snowbird training at Barry Goldwater Range south of Phoenix on the evening of 13 March 1997. The flares descended under parachute and were obscured by the Estrella Mountains, making them appear to hover above the ridgeline from Phoenix vantage points.
Why did Governor Symington mock the sightings if he saw the V-formation?
Symington stated in his 2007 interview that he felt the appropriate response as governor was to diffuse public alarm rather than amplify it. In 1997, with no official explanation available for Event One, a governor publicly endorsing the sightings as extraordinary would have created greater public anxiety. His political judgment and his personal experience of the event were in conflict.
Was the V-formation (Event One) ever definitively explained?
Event One has not been definitively traced to specific aircraft with publicly released tail numbers and flight logs, which leaves a documentation gap. The most consistent explanation is A-10 Thunderbolts in formation, consistent with the speed, altitude, light pattern, and near-silence described by witnesses. The absence of a definitive public identification does not support the extraterrestrial interpretation.
Sources
Show 3 more sources
Further Reading
- paperUSAF Operation Snowbird: Barry Goldwater Range exercise records — US Air Force (1997)
- articlePhoenix Lights: A Skeptic's Dream (Skeptical Inquirer) — Tony Ortega (1998)
- documentaryThe Phoenix Lights (2005 documentary) — Lynne D. Kitei (2005)