UFO/UAP Sightings Report, First Half of 2025

The National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC) logged 2,174 reports of unidentified flying objects or unidentified anomalous phenomena between 1 January and 30 June 2025.

This was a sharp increase from 1,492 reports during the same period in 2024.

NUFORC notes that some of these reports describe sightings from previous years because witnesses only felt comfortable reporting them recently.

Christian Stepien, NUFORC’s chief technology officer, estimates that only about 5 % of sightings are ever reported and roughly 3 % merit serious investigation; most are later identified as balloons, drones, aircraft or natural objects.

Monthly report counts

NUFORC’s data show that sighting reports peaked early in the year and gradually declined through June:

*Values represent reports submitted to NUFORC; the date of the report does not always correspond to the date the event occurred.

New York – 66 sightings in the first half of 2025

A July 2025 report noted that New York state logged 66 UAP sightings between January and late June 2025, slightly more than the 65 reports recorded in the same period of 2024.

Witnesses described glowing orbs, silent triangles, fast‑moving disks and shape‑shifting lights in rural areas and over New York City.

• On 25 March 2025, a person in Chester reported two white orbs that performed a sudden 90‑degree turn and morphed into dark aerodynamic ovals.
• On 24 June 2025, a passenger on a flight approaching New York City saw a metallic sphere 100–200 ft below the aircraft that moved steadily away and did not resemble a balloon.

Some clusters of sightings, such as repeated orb reports near Evans Mills (close to a military base), may have explanations like drones or defence activities.

Michigan – 36 sightings through June 2025

A July 2025 news item reported that Michigan residents had filed 36 UFO sightings in 2025.
The most recent H1 reports occurred in late June:

• 29 June 2025 (Detroit area) – Witnesses saw dozens of high‑altitude reflective objects moving north in a random pattern. The objects emitted no sound or visible propulsion and were not thought to be Starlink satellites. The event lasted about 10 minutes and was captured on an iPhone.
• 28 June 2025 (near Port Huron) – An observer reported a white cylinder‑shaped craft hovering for several seconds before slowly moving behind clouds. The witness estimated the object would have been about the size of a school bus if viewed up close.

NUFORC data show that Michigan historically ranks tenth among U.S. states for UFO/UAP reports, with 3,794 sightings since 1936. California leads with 16,735 reports and Florida follows with 8,624. Some 2025 Michigan sightings are suspected to be drones.

Interpretation

The first half of 2025 saw a 46 % increase in UFO/UAP reports compared with H1 2024.

While the number of reports is up, NUFORC emphasises that the majority are misidentifications; only a small fraction remain unexplained.

New York and Michigan illustrate regional variations: New York’s 66 reports included orbs executing sharp turns and a metallic sphere near a commercial jet, whereas Michigan’s 36 reports featured clusters of reflective objects and a hovering cylindrical craft.

The U.S. government responded to the surge by ordering improved airspace sovereignty and drone detection measures in June 2025; investigators hope better technology (high‑resolution cameras and infrared sensors) will improve future UFO research.

If you’re looking for more cases from around the world, explore our archive of UFO sightings from antiquity to now.