What Are You Afraid of? UFOs

Pilots and air traffic controllers are in a unique position to help us understand what’s happening above us.

Jason Judy

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

Artist’s rendition of UAP over the New Jersey coast [Credit: Americans for Safe Aerospace]

Key Takeaways:

The author, a former air traffic controller, recounts personal encounters and observations of UAPs (unidentified anomalous phenomena), including a dramatic mid-flight sighting that was initially denied by his instructor.
Air traffic controllers view UAPs primarily as safety hazards and unknowns in their airspace, expressing frustration rather than awe, with the FAA not prohibiting reports of such events.
The reclassification of "UFO" to "UAP" and official government disclosures have significantly reduced the stigma among aviation professionals, encouraging more open discussion about unexplained aerial phenomena.
The article advocates for continued open reporting and investigation of UAPs by pilots and controllers, stressing their unique position to contribute to understanding these mysteries.

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Back in 1999, when I was working as an air traffic controller at Fort Worth Center, one of my
co-workers ended up on Coast to Coast AM with Art Bell.

He had submitted audio of unusual aerial activity over the Dallas-Fort Worth area, something people now refer to as UAPs (unidentified anomalous/aerial phenomena). I remember listening to the show and laughing as Bell treated the recording as if it were a leak from a secret government source.