In 1997, Arizona's skies were lit up by one of the most famous mass UFO sightings in history—the Phoenix Lights. Was it a silent alien craft, secret military tech, or just a misidentified flare drop? We break down the timeline, examine key witnesses, dig into official responses, and explore the lingering conspiracies that keep this event at the center of UAP debates nearly three decades later.

🌌 March 13, 1997 – A two-act sky show: the silent V-formation gliding from Nevada to Phoenix, followed by the hovering Estrella lights blamed on military flares.

👁️ Key Witnesses & Evidence – Dr. Lynne Kitei’s footage, pilot Kurt Russell’s in-air report, Gov. Fife Symington’s shift from skeptic to believer, and tales of electronic interference and confiscated Super 8 footage.

📞 The Official Response – Initial silence from every agency, a tone-deaf alien gag press conference, and months-late flare confessions that left half the mystery unexplained.

🛸 Competing Theories – Extraterrestrial craft, black-project stealth blimps, optical illusions, and psychological crowd effects all compete for answers.

🎥 Cultural Impact – From grassroots archives to documentaries, horror films, and annual sky watches—the Phoenix Lights remain a pop-culture UFO legend.

🧠 Fringe Theories – Psychic predictions from a Scottsdale cable-access host, a rumored crash near Kingman, and missing radar tapes that deepen the mystery.

❓ Unanswered Questions – Why the delayed flare disclosure? Where’s the radar data? Could today’s tech finally crack the case?