Editing Unidentified flying object (section)

===Europe===

==== France (1977–2008) ====

In March 2007, the French space agency [[CNES]] published an archive of UFO sightings and other phenomena online.<ref name="geipan">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnes-geipan.fr/ |title=GEIPAN: Le GEIPAN |work=[[GEIPAN|Groupe d'Études et d'Informations sur les Phénomènes Aérospatiaux Non Identifiés]] (GEIPAN) |publisher=[[Centre national d'études spatiales]] (CNES) |location=Paris |access-date=May 16, 2013 |archive-date=February 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219094957/http://www.cnes-geipan.fr/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

French studies include GEPAN/SEPRA/[[GEIPAN]] within CNES (French space agency), the longest ongoing government-sponsored investigation. About 22% of the 6,000 cases studied remain unexplained.<ref name="GEIPAN statistics summary">{{cite web|url=http://www.cnes.fr/web/CNES-en/5039-a-history-of-uap-research-at-cnes.php|title=A history of UAP research at CNES|publisher=[[CNES]]|access-date=October 6, 2014|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006155415/http://www.cnes.fr/web/CNES-en/5039-a-history-of-uap-research-at-cnes.php|url-status=live}}</ref> The official opinion of GEPAN/SEPRA/GEIPAN has been neutral, stating on their [[FAQ]] page that their mission is fact-finding for the scientific community, not rendering an opinion. They add they can neither prove nor disprove the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH), but their Steering Committee's clear position is that they cannot discard the possibility that some fraction of the very strange 22% of unexplained cases might be due to distant and advanced civilizations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.geipan.fr/fr/faq-page?_x_tr_sl=fr&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en#n58794|title=Autres Liens|access-date=October 6, 2014|archive-date=August 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804171011/https://www.geipan.fr/fr/faq-page?_x_tr_sl=fr&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en#n58794|url-status=live}}</ref>

Possibly their bias may be indicated by their use of the terms "PAN" (French) or "UAP" (English equivalent) for "Unidentified ''Aerospace'' Phenomenon" (whereas "UAP" is normally used by English organizations stands for "Unidentified ''Aerial'' Phenomenon", a more neutral term). In addition, the three heads of the studies have gone on record in stating that UFOs were real physical flying machines beyond our knowledge or that the best explanation for the most inexplicable cases was an extraterrestrial one.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ufoevidence.org/documents/doc2008.htm |title=Official French Gov't UFO study project to resume with new director |date=October 2005 |publisher=ufoevidence.org |location=Seattle |access-date=July 13, 2013 |archive-date=May 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502192445/http://ufoevidence.org/documents/doc2008.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ufoevidence.org/documents/doc1627.htm |title='Yes, UFOs exist': Position statement by SEPRA head, Jean-Jacques Velasco |orig-year=Originally published in ''[[La Dépêche du Midi]]'' |date=April 18, 2004 |publisher=ufoevidence.org |location=Seattle |access-date=July 13, 2013 |archive-date=April 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408232437/http://www.ufoevidence.org/documents/doc1627.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ufoevidence.org/documents/doc1626.htm |title=Assessment of the UFO phenomenon by GEPAN (1978) |publisher=ufoevidence.org |location=Seattle |access-date=July 13, 2013 |archive-date=April 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408232427/http://www.ufoevidence.org/documents/doc1626.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2007, the CNES's own report stated that, at that time, 28% of sightings remained unidentified.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://cnes.fr/en/web/CNES-en/5866-geipan-uap-investigation-unit-opens-its-files.php |title=CNES report, March 26, 2007 |date=April 23, 2015 |access-date=January 8, 2023 |archive-date=January 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108170520/https://cnes.fr/en/web/CNES-en/5866-geipan-uap-investigation-unit-opens-its-files.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2008, Michel Scheller, president of the [[Association Aéronautique et Astronautique de France]] (3AF), created the Sigma Commission. Its purpose was to investigate UFO phenomena worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x98y3k_ovni-nouvelle-commission-denquete-3_tech |title=Ovni-nouvelle-commission-denquete-3AF-PAN (Partie 1) |website=[[Dailymotion]] |date=May 11, 2009 |publisher=[[Orange (telecommunications)|Orange]] |location=Paris |access-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-date=January 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106220709/http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x98y3k_ovni-nouvelle-commission-denquete-3_tech |url-status=live }}</ref> A progress report published in May 2010 stated that the central hypothesis proposed by the [[COMETA report]] is perfectly credible.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.openminds.tv/wp-content/uploads/Rapport_Etape_Com.SIGMA_Juin2010.pdf |title=Rapport d'étape de la Commission Sigma/3AF |date=May 31, 2010 |publisher=[[Association Aéronautique et Astronautique de France]] |location=Paris |access-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924061130/http://www.openminds.tv/wp-content/uploads/Rapport_Etape_Com.SIGMA_Juin2010.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In December 2012, the final report of the Sigma Commission was submitted to Scheller. Following the submission of the final report, the Sigma2 Commission is to be formed with a mandate to continue the scientific investigation of UFO phenomena.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.3af.fr/article/en-direct-de-3af/sigma-2 |title=Sigma 2 |last=Dini |first=Luc |date=January 10, 2013 |website=3AF |publisher=Association Aéronautique et Astronautique de France |location=Paris |access-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-date=February 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140213092211/http://www.3af.fr/article/en-direct-de-3af/sigma-2 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite interview |last=Boudier |first=Alain |interviewer=Alexandre |title=Alexandre – Alain Boudier – Sygma & 3AF |url=http://rim951.fr/?p=2537 |work=RimLive.com |location=Paris |date=June 20, 2013 |access-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-date=July 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702074819/http://rim951.fr/?p=2537 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==== Italy (1933–2005) ====

Alleged UFO sightings gradually increased since the war, peaking in 1978 and 2005. The total number of sightings since 1947 are 18,500, of which 90% are identifiable.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ufo.it/ufo1bis.htm?l-l=en|title=And Ufology UFO Italy UFO sightings, not Flying Saucers, Aliens or Extraterrestrials|publisher=Ufo.it|access-date=October 6, 2014|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006163047/http://www.ufo.it/ufo1bis.htm?l-l=en|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== United Kingdom (1951–2009) ====
{{Update section|date=December 2020}}
The UK's [[Flying Saucer Working Party]] published its final report in June 1951, which remained secret for over fifty years. The Working Party concluded that all UFO sightings could be explained as misidentifications of ordinary objects or phenomena, optical illusions, psychological misperceptions/aberrations, or hoaxes. The report stated: "We accordingly recommend very strongly that no further investigation of reported mysterious aerial phenomena be undertaken, unless and until some material evidence becomes available."<ref name="FSWP">{{cite web |url=http://www.theblackvault.com/documents/ufos/UK/DEFE44-119.pdf |title=Unidentified Flying Objects |date=June 1951 |website=The Black Vault |publisher=John Greenewald |id=DSI/JTIC Report No. 7 |location=Northridge, CA |access-date=September 16, 2013 |archive-date=June 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601042337/http://www.theblackvault.com/documents/ufos/UK/DEFE44-119.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

Eight file collections on UFO sightings, dating from 1978 to 1987, were first released on May 14, 2008, to [[The National Archives (United Kingdom)|The National Archives]] by the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] (MoD).<ref name="nationalarchivesUFO">{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ufos/ |title=UFO files |publisher=[[The National Archives (United Kingdom)|The National Archives]] |location=Kew |access-date=September 10, 2013 |archive-date=February 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224203714/http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ufos/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Although kept secret from the public for many years, most of the files have low levels of classification and none are classified Top Secret. 200 files are set to be made public by 2012. The files are correspondence from the public sent to the British government and officials, such as the MoD and [[Margaret Thatcher]]. The MoD released the files under the [[Freedom of information in the United Kingdom|Freedom of Information Act]] due to requests from researchers.<ref>{{cite news |title=Files released on UFO sightings |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7398108.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |publisher=BBC |location=London |date=May 14, 2008 |access-date=May 16, 2013 |archive-date=July 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720115509/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7398108.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> These files include, but are not limited to, UFOs over [[Liverpool]] and [[Waterloo Bridge]] in London.<ref>{{cite news |title=The truth is out there: Britons 'spotted' UFOs, records say |url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5j0OnawpQKsmDXbJAce-OI5EiUgHQ |agency=[[Agence France-Presse|AFP]] |location=London |date=May 13, 2008 |access-date=May 16, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605221509/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5j0OnawpQKsmDXbJAce-OI5EiUgHQ |archive-date=June 5, 2013  }}</ref>

On October 20, 2008, more UFO files were released. One case released detailed that in 1991 an Alitalia passenger aircraft was approaching [[London Heathrow Airport]] when the pilots saw what they described as a "[[cruise missile]]" fly extremely close to the cockpit. The pilots believed a collision was imminent. UFO expert David Clarke says this is one of the most convincing cases for a UFO he has come across.<ref>{{cite news |title=Airliner had near miss with UFO |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7679145.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |location=London |date=October 20, 2008 |access-date=May 16, 2013 |archive-date=October 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023152515/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7679145.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

A secret study of UFOs was undertaken for the Ministry of Defence between 1996 and 2000 and was code-named Project Condign. The resulting report, titled "Unidentified Aerial Phenomena in the UK Defence Region", was publicly released in 2006, but the identity and credentials of whoever constituted Project Condign remains classified. The report confirmed earlier findings that the main causes of UFO sightings are misidentification of man-made and natural objects. The report noted: "No artefacts of unknown or unexplained origin have been reported or handed to the UK authorities, despite thousands of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena reports. There are no [[Signals intelligence|SIGINT]], [[Signals intelligence|ELINT]] or radiation measurements and little useful video or still [[Imagery intelligence|IMINT]]."<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |url=http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/BA0DA42F-2C56-431E-98F6-19CD45EE7D43/0/uap_vol3_executive_summary_pg2_paras4_and_7.pdf |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121026065214/http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/BA0DA42F-2C56-431E-98F6-19CD45EE7D43/0/uap_vol3_executive_summary_pg2_paras4_and_7.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 26, 2012 |title=Unidentified Aerial Phenomena in the UK Air Defence Region |volume=3 |author=Defence Intelligence Staff |author-link=Defence Intelligence |date=December 2000 |publisher=The National Archives |location=Kew |page=2 |id=55/2/00 |access-date=September 10, 2013}} See also The National Archives site: [http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121026065214/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/FreedomOfInformation/PublicationScheme/SearchPublicationScheme/UapInTheUkAirDefenceRegionVolume3.htm "Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) in the UK Air Defence Region"] for archived documents.</ref>

It concluded: "There is no evidence that any UAP, seen in the UKADR [UK Air Defence Region], are incursions by air-objects of any intelligent (extraterrestrial or foreign) origin, or that they represent any hostile intent." A little-discussed conclusion of the report was that novel meteorological plasma phenomenon akin to [[ball lightning]] are responsible for "the majority, if not all" of otherwise inexplicable sightings, especially reports of [[Black triangle (UFO)|black triangle UFOs]].<ref name="auto1"/>

On December 1, 2009, the Ministry of Defence quietly closed down its UFO investigations unit. The unit's hotline and email address were suspended by the MoD on that date. The MoD said there was no value in continuing to receive and investigate sightings in a release, stating that "in over fifty years, no UFO report has revealed any evidence of a potential threat to the United Kingdom. The MoD has no specific capability for identifying the nature of such sightings. There is no Defence benefit in such investigation and it would be an inappropriate use of defence resources. Furthermore, responding to reported UFO sightings diverts MoD resources from tasks that are relevant to Defence." ''[[The Guardian]]'' reported that the MoD claimed the closure would save the Ministry around £50,000 a year. The MoD said it would continue to release UFO files to the public through The National Archives.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cost-cutting causes British gov't to shut down UFO investigations |first=Stephanie |last=Dearing |url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/283265 |work=Digital Journal |location=Toronto |date=December 5, 2009 |access-date=May 16, 2013 |archive-date=May 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515062510/http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/283265 |url-status=live }}</ref>

UFO reports, Parliamentary questions, and letters from members of the public were released on August 5, 2010, to the UK National Archives. "In one letter included in the files, a man alleges Churchill ordered a coverup of a WW II-era UFO encounter involving the Royal Air Force".<ref name="CBS1">{{cite web |last1=Binlot |first1=Ann |title=Winston Churchill Ordered UFO Coverup? |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/winston-churchill-ordered-ufo-coverup/ |website=cbsnews.com |date=August 5, 2010 |publisher=[[CBS news]] |access-date=November 10, 2021 |archive-date=November 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110142708/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/winston-churchill-ordered-ufo-coverup/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="nationalarchivesUFO"/>

Reports of UFO sightings continue. According to ''[[The Independent]],'' there were 957 reported UFO sightings across the UK between January 2021 and May 2023, with [[Manchester]], [[London]], [[Liverpool]], and [[Glasgow]] being hotspots.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-24 |title=UFO hotspots revealed as ex Ministry of Defence expert calls for action |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/ufo-hotspots-revealed-aliens-b2434354.html |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=The Independent |language=en |archive-date=November 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231104103628/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/ufo-hotspots-revealed-aliens-b2434354.html |url-status=live }}</ref>