UFO sightings in the UK are ‘in decline’

UFO sightings are said to be “in decline” in the UK; Fewer people than ever claim to have witnessed an unexplained object in the sky.

British UFO Research Association (BUFORA) expert Peter Wooton explained that sightings have decreased in recent years due to fewer reports being submitted to the organization or the police, and he believes that the closure of a number of United States Air Force (USAF) bases and the reduction of flights from RAF stations may be behind the decrease in numbers.

Writing for the BUFORA website, Wooton explained: “Where did all the UFOs go? … Actually, one might ask, where?”

“Judging by the number of sighting reports received by BUFORA and the responses to Freedom of Information (FoI) requests sent to various police forces in the east of England seeking information on the number of UFOs reported to them, it appears that such sightings have decreased considerably.

“The majority of sighting reports sent to BUFORA that I have personally dealt with are of strange creatures seen at night. [lights] … Very little real craft was seen.”

He continued: “Since the end of the Cold War in 1991 and the withdrawal of the USAF from some bases near the east coast of England in 1993, the closure or cessation of flights of various RAF stations in the east of England and the resulting reduction in military flying activity, many UFO sightings may actually be military aircraft seen in poor lighting or adverse weather conditions, both from the USAF and the RAF, or from other NATO countries visiting UK air bases under conditions or at odd angles at night or in bright sunlight?

“That certainly appears to be the case, judging by the apparent decrease in sight reports received by BUFORA and local police departments.”

Wooton explained that it is now easier than ever to explain mysterious objects using flight and satellite trackers or sky maps, that information about secret aviation projects has always been kept tightly secret, and that the relocation of military installations away from the UK may be behind the decline in sightings.

He wrote: “Where does this leave us in terms of UFO sightings? We’re probably going back to the beginning, i.e. where did all the UFOs go?”

“As previously mentioned, the USAF’s withdrawal from some of its UK bases and the reduction of flying activity at many RAF stations has probably had an impact, and the recent bias towards the development of UAVs has also probably changed the number and type of unknown objects seen in the sky.

“With this in mind, I suspect the answer lies in changes in defense technology and the shift in the focus of defense activity from Europe to regions in the Middle East.

“It would be interesting to know whether there has been a corresponding increase in UFO sightings elsewhere due to these changes.

“If so, this would almost certainly prove that most sightings are related to military activity and that the reduction in military activity in the UK has had a direct impact on the number of reported UFO sightings.”