David Fravor

US Navy Commander

On November 14, 2004, retired U.

S. Navy Commander David Fravor and his wingman Lt. Cmdr. Alex Dietrich intercepted an unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAP) off the coast of Southern California while operating with the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group.

Key Details of the Encounter:

Visual Description: Fravor and his crew observed a smooth, white, oblong object resembling a Tic Tac breath mint, approximately 45 feet across, with no visible wings, rotors, or exhaust plumes.
Performance: The object exhibited performance capabilities far beyond conventional technology, including instantaneous acceleration and the ability to travel 60 miles in under a minute without aerodynamic drag.
Radar Confirmation: The USS Princeton (CG-59) tracked the object descending from over 80,000 feet to roughly 20,000 feet and later reacquired it 60 miles away after it disappeared from visual range.
Infrared Footage: Although Fravor’s flight did not record the video, a subsequent sortie led by Lt. Cmdr. Chad Underwood captured the now-famous FLIR1 infrared video of the object, which was authenticated by the Pentagon in 2020.
Lack of Investigation: Fravor testified in 2023 that despite the encounter, there was no official investigation or follow-up by the Navy at the time, with the incident remaining classified until media exposure in 2017.