The Stephenville Lights
The account
A huge, silent object, chased by fighter jets, crossed a small Texas town.
What investigators found
The Air Force first denied it and later admitted that F-16 fighters were training in the area that night.
The story
On the night of January 8, 2008, dozens of residents of Stephenville and nearby towns in Texas reported very bright lights that changed formation and a large, silent object. The witnesses included a local pilot and a police officer. Some said they saw fighter jets chasing the lights, and the case made the national news.
The Air Force initially denied having any aircraft in the air, but weeks later corrected itself and confirmed an F-16 training exercise in the area. Skeptics believe the jets and possible flares explain the reports. An analysis of radar data by a civilian research group argued that an unidentified object was present, a conclusion that is not universally accepted.