"Air battles of lights": The EU is secretly tracking UFOs
A Euronews investigation reveals that the European Union is secretly tracking Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP). Pilots report "air battles" and objects near nuclear sites, but EU authorities continue to downplay the issue, citing a lack of systemic safety threats.
The European Commission has been tracking Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) — the modern term for UFOs — under the radar at least since 2023, as revealed by an investigation by the Euronews network.
According to documents from the Commission's security arm, Europe is well aware of the increase in reports and is seeking to improve identification and monitoring capabilities for objects in the sky and space. "We are getting better at noticing and identifying them as our technological capabilities improve, but we must get even better," reads an official letter from the Commission.
The discoveries surfaced following an inquiry by amateur astronomers from Malaysia, who sent Commission President Ursula von der Leyen 37 photographs and videos of mysterious objects flying near planes and nuclear sites, alongside reports of anomalous Wi-Fi signals at high altitudes.
Pilots testify: "It looks like air battles of lights"
Civilian pilots in Europe are increasingly refusing to remain silent. Joachim Dekkers, founder of the Coalition for Unidentified Phenomena in the Netherlands, estimates that about 90% of pilot reports go unrecorded due to stigma and fear of professional repercussions.
Rob Akkermans, a Dutch commercial pilot with 35 years of experience, described a 2023 incident: "For over two hours, from south of Cyprus to the Balkans, the crew watched bright lights. One performed maneuvers around the others — it looked exactly like an air battle ('dogfight'). Then they disappeared at tremendous speed."
Boeing 747 captain Christiaan van Heijst emphasized that ignoring such objects contradicts aviation safety standards, especially given recent drone swarm penetrations over Europe.
The threat to nuclear sites
Concern is growing regarding the link between these phenomena and strategic facilities. A 2015 French study confirmed a correlation between UFO reports and proximity to atomic sites, such as the La Hague nuclear recycling plant. Similar cases have occurred in the US; in 1967 at Malmstrom Air Force Base, an unidentified object hovered over nuclear missile complexes, causing several missiles to temporarily malfunction.
France is currently the only EU country operating an official research center for these phenomena — GEIPAN, which has been active since 1977. Last June, the French parliament held a historic debate, calling for a serious and rational approach to the subject.
The stigma vs. security
German MEP Fabio De Masi has repeatedly demanded that the EU update aviation reporting systems. "If our airspace is exposed, it is a serious security threat. This is not about 'little green men,' but about flight safety," he warns. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) currently rejects calls for a separate reporting category, stating there is no evidence of a systemic safety problem.
Experts argue that EASA's lack of evidence stems from the "reporting gap" created by stigma. In contrast to Europe, the United States has long moved beyond conspiracy theories, with the Pentagon establishing a dedicated UAP Task Force and Congress holding public hearings.
