Placement on High Alert Due to Perceived Aggressive Foreign Posturing
- Date
- 2 Jul 2008
- Place
- Harare International Airport, Zimbabwe
- Record
- Pentagon file
- Assessment
- Not assessed
- Evidence strength
What was reported
A July 3, 2008 CIA intelligence information report, widely distributed to a large interagency/military address list, describes an unidentified object hovering at high altitude directly over Harare International Airport on the afternoon of July 2, 2008, 'possibly by both radar and optical means.' Observers reported a disc-like object with a hollow center and rotating underside lights that shifted colors before quickly ascending out of visual range; observers debated whether it was a foreign reconnaissance device or of extraterrestrial origin. The incident led Zimbabwean authorities to place their forces on high alert.
What officials concluded
Unresolved
The file gives no official explanation.
- Agency
- CIA
- Released in
- 123456
Evidence profile
- Yes: Visual
- No: Infrared
- Yes: Radar
- No: Video
- No: Photo
- No: Film
- No: Audio
- No: Night vision
- No: Other sensor
- No: Civilian
- No: Military aircrew
- No: Military ground
- No: Airline crew
- No: Sensor operator
- No: Law enforcement
- No: Scientist
- No: Astronaut
- No: Intelligence official
- Yes: Other
- No: Light only
- No: Orb or sphere
- Yes: Disc
- No: Triangle
- No: Cylinder
- No: Cube
- No: Other shape
- No: Physiological
- No: Physical trace
- No: Electromagnetic
- No: Sound
- No: Silent
Why this rating Combines a possible radar detection with a detailed visual description (disc shape, color-shifting rotating lights, high-speed ascent) from a security-sensitive site (an international airport), but 'possibly' radar-tracked is hedged in the source, witness numbers/names are redacted, and no independent instrumentation data or corroborating track is included in this file.
As described in the file
- Witnesses
- Multiple unnamed observers at/near Harare airport (numbers redacted)
- Sensors
- Radar (possibly), visual
- Shape
- Disc-like with a hollow center
- Lights and colour
- Rotating lights on the underside that shifted colors
- Motion
- Stationary while observed ('hovering'), then 'quickly ascended to higher altitudes and out of visual range'
- Altitude or range
- High altitude, directly over the airport
- Effects
- Prompted Zimbabwean authorities to place forces on high alert
Pentagon files
CIA-UAP-017, Placement on High Alert Due to Perceived Aggressive Foreign Posturing
Open the original on war.gov
What the file claims
- Unverified
Observers debated whether the object was an advanced foreign reconnaissance device or of extraterrestrial origin.
- Unverified
The object was possibly tracked by both radar and optical means over the airport.
On the map
17.93° S, 31.09° E, plotted at the site
Show on the map