New York City, New York UFO Sighting (November 9, 1950) — FBI Files (D6P91)
An unidentified circular object was observed over New York City on November 9, 1950, exhibiting rapid directional changes and unusual flight patterns.
Historical Context
The sighting on November 9, 1950, occurred during a period of heightened atmospheric anxiety within the United States. Following the 1947 Kenneth Arnold sighting and the subsequent Roswell incident, the American public and federal agencies were increasingly preoccupied with the concept of “flying saucers.” This era, often characterized by the early Cold War, saw a surge in reports of unidentified aerial phenomena as the nation gravers the technological advancements of the burgeoning jet age and the potential for aerial espionage. During this decade, the phenomenon was frequently viewed through the lens of national security, as the presence of unknown objects in the sky could signify the deployment of advanced Soviet technology or extraterrestrial intrusion.
The administrative handling of such reports was standardized through various federal channels. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) maintained a protocol wherein field offices in cities such as Knoxville, Albuquerque, and Los Angeles would route UFO reports to headquarters. This was done primarily to ensure the protection of vital installations and to monitor any potential threats to domestic security. The documentation for the New York City event, later released on May 8, 2026, through the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE), reflects this era of systematic, albeit cautious, government record-keeping.
The Incident
On the night of November 9, 1950, an unidentified object was observed over the New York City skyline. The primary witness, a chemical engineer named Mr. Hitchens, provided a detailed account of the phenomenon. Given his professional background and familiarity with astronomy, his observations were documented with a degree of technical specificity. Mr. Hitchens observed a circular object in the sky and estimated its velocity to be between 400 and 700 miles per hour. He noted that the object possessed the ability to change direction rapidly, even appearing to move backwards. The official file includes the observation that the object had seemed to back up and go forward, possibly two or three times in order to execute a change of direction.
In terms of scale, the witness provided a comparison to known celestial bodies to illustrate the object’s apparent magnitude. Mr. Hitchens stated that he did not mistake the object for the planet Venus and estimated its size to be significantly larger than the planet, specifically noting the size of this object as being ten times Venus’ diameter. While the released document does not specify the total number of witnesses present during the sighting, the report includes descriptions of figures or beings associated with the object, adding a layer of complexity to the encounter.
Investigation and Classification
The investigation of the 1950 New York City sighting remained within the purview of federal agencies focused on anomalous aerial activity. At the time, the phenomenon was often analyzed alongside other contemporary sightings involving unusual flight patterns or luminous objects. The technical nature of the witness’s report allowed investigators to weigh the sighting against known astronomical and atmospheric events.
The status of the case remains officially unresolved. Under the current guidelines of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), all records released under the PURSUE program are designated as unresolved by default. The federal government has not reached a definitive conclusion regarding whether the event was caused by anomalous or conventional means. Within the historical context of the 1950s, conventional explanations for such sightings often included experimental aircraft, weather balloons—specifically those associated with the Project Mogul series—or atmospheric optical phenomena such as lenticular clouds and sundogs. Additionally, the presence of meteors near the horizon or the positioning of the Moon and Venus were frequently considered as potential misidentifications for unidentified objects.