Western US multiple red lights sightings, 2026
2026 · Western United States
Summary
Two FBI FD-302 interview reports describe the same night in the western United States, when two people on area reconnaissance saw red lights over a mountain range. The first witness said he and a companion left their base at about 7:45pm in rain and heavy cloud and, between 8:00pm and 8:30pm, saw two lights he called dash-shaped and dull red. Through night optical devices (NODs) they looked orb-like with a halo. He has astigmatism, and the report says this could account for the second witness seeing triangular or diamond shapes.
The second witness, interviewed by telephone, placed the first red light at about 2200 after a drive of about 25 miles. He estimated it at 5,000 to 7,000 feet above ground level and said 6 to 10 more lights appeared overhead, one descending about 1,000 feet. Around 2350, he saw two lights near the ground to the east visible only through NODs, and a fast streak of light. The first witness gave a similar late-evening sequence, with a light about 6 feet off the ground.
Both reports record that a mechanical watch was 25 minutes fast while phones, the vehicle clock and a digital watch agreed. The first witness said the lights did not behave like satellites and showed no exhaust or sound. Thermal optics did not work for him. Neither report states a conclusion.
Separate FD-302s describe a Special Agent's thermal observations. In D032, he was directed to bearing 58 degrees after an RF detection at about 1604 and saw two black-hot objects for 5 to 10 minutes. In D033, a second-night statement describes a hot object flying southbound that he judged about half the size of a Black Hawk helicopter he had filmed. He could not determine its type. The FBI also produced digital renderings, described as artistic interpretations of witness accounts.
Where the files disagree
Two documents give different accounts of the same detail. Both are quoted as written; we don't say which is right.
Number of lights first seen
Time of the first sighting
What the files say
“Both were black hot.”
Page 1 →“the unidentified aerial object appeared to be approximately half the size of the Black Hawk.”
Page 1 →“[REDACTED] described the lights as "dash" shaped and dull red in color to the naked eye.”
Page 1 →“The second light appeared to be approximately 6 feet off the ground.”
Page 2 →“[REDACTED] noted no exhaust or tail when these objects moved, and they exhibited no audible sound signature.”
Page 3 →“These lights, along with the first-observed light, appeared to “sync up” and traveled to the east/southeast.”
Page 1 →
Also discussed in
Explanations in the record
What the documents themselves say the event was, as recorded. Not our assessment.
- The first witness's astigmatism was given as a possible reason the second witness saw the lights as triangular or diamond-shaped rather than dash-shaped. — Western US multiple red lights interview (2026): FBI report, page 1
- The witness said the lights did not behave like satellites and that the objects were not a UAS he was familiar with. — Western US multiple red lights interview (2026): FBI report, page 3