WASHINGTON, United States — A declassified FBI interview reveals a civilian’s encounter with an unidentified aerial phenomenon at a U.S. test facility on September 1, 2023.
The document, catalogued as “FBI September 2023 Sighting – Serial 5,” is part of the PURSUE archive released by the U.S. Department of War on May 8, 2026. It records the witness’s observations, reactions, and subsequent effects.
The witness was at the test site for scheduled drone operations. A “bright light over the horizon” appeared. According to the FBI Form 302 interview, the object maintained a constant size and steady light intensity throughout the sighting.
The civilian expressed irritation. The airspace was restricted for the ongoing tests, and the object’s presence disrupted them.
A second individual, traveling in a separate vehicle, tried to see the phenomenon. That person could not see it.
After the event, the primary witness reported experiencing “weird dreams” and difficulty sleeping for the first two nights. That same evening, a storm moved through the area. The television in the witness’s hotel room lost power.
The witness checked whether the outage was limited to their room or part of a broader disruption. The document does not record the outcome of that inquiry.
The interview is one of many records in the PURSUE archive, a collection of declassified U.S. government files on unidentified anomalous phenomena. The archive launched on May 8, 2026, during the administration of President Donald Trump. It continued a series of disclosures that began earlier that month, according to Wikipedia’s entry on “United States UFO files.”
The FBI’s Form 302 format provides a structured narrative. It captures both the factual description of the sighting and the witness’s personal impressions. While the official file description offers only a brief overview, the interview supplies richer detail, including the witness’s emotional response and short-term sleep impact. These personal elements illustrate how UAP encounters can affect individuals beyond the moment of observation.
The September 2023 sighting adds to a growing body of evidence that the U.S. government is systematically releasing information about UAPs. Each newly declassified document raises further questions about the nature, origin, and purpose of these phenomena, as well as the frequency with which they are observed in restricted airspace.
Future releases from the PURSUE archive are expected to expand the dataset. They may clarify patterns or offer new insights. Analysts and the public will watch for additional accounts that might corroborate or contrast with Serial 5’s details.
As the archive grows, it may shed light on broader investigative efforts by agencies such as the FBI and the Department of War. For now, the September 2023 report remains a singular, detailed testimony of a bright, steady-lit object over a test site, the lingering personal effects on the witness, and the environmental conditions that accompanied the event.
