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Illinois UFO Sighting

This famous UFO case involved the sighting of a huge unidentified triangular-shaped UFO by police officers and others in the early morning hours of January 5, 2000, over the state of Illinois. The officers, from a number of small Illinois towns, were able to track the unknown object and maintain radio contact with each other during the event. Their in-depth testimonies have been fully documented by investigators.

key articles, documents & resources

Illinois UFO Case Analysis

Darryl Barker, Darryl Barker Productions

It’s been more than four years and three month since the sighting of a huge unidentified triangular-shaped UFO by police officers and others in the early morning hours of January 5, 2000, over the state of Illinois. Since that time, the incident has been viewed by many as one of the most substantial UFO sightings in the history of the phenomenon, due almost entirely to the testimonials given by the law enforcement officers involved.

Illinois UFO Sighting Report

National Institute for Discovery Science (NIDS)

NIDS received a report at on 1/5/2000 from a police officer at Milstadt, Illinois. The officer reported an unidentified flying object seen by a business owner and several police officers at Lebanon, Millstadt, Shiloh and Dupo, Illinois. The report to NIDS came approximately two hours after the sighting. After multiple telephone calls to the locale, NIDS dispatched two investigators to the location to conduct face-to-face interviews with eyewitnesses.

other articles & documents

Hypothesis: The Illinois Flying Triangle is A Department of Defense, Not An ET Craft (PDF) PDF Document

National Institute for Discovery Science (NIDS)

An examination of whether the 2000 Illinois UFO sighting was a secret military craft.

Illinois MUFON Case Report on 2000 UFO Sighting

David Marler, State Director, Illinois Mutual UFO Network

During my ten years of investigating UFOs, I have never had a case like the one that occurred in the early morning hours of Jan. 5, 2000. The UFO incident involved multiple witnesses, which mainly consisted of police officers from a number of small Illinois towns. The officers were able to track the unknown object and maintain radio contact with each other during the event. Adding to this, Scott Air Force Base was only two miles away from the flight path of the UFO. This episode became the focus of intense media coverage, which continued weeks after the actual event.

Illinois UFO Sighting Report by NIDS: Abstract

National Institute for Discovery Science (NIDS)

Abstract from the report of the investigation by the National Institute for Discovery Science (NIDS) on the 2000 Illinois UFO sighting, including a summary of interviews conducted during the investigation. R

NIDS and the Illinois UFO sighting - "A New Day for UFO Research"

Patrick Huyghe, Space.com, 15 March 2000

An article on the role of the National Institute for Discovery Science (NIDS) in the investigation of the January 5, 2000 Illinois UFO sighting. R

Response to skeptic Philip Klass suggesting Illinois UFO sighting was planet Venus

Eric W. Davis, Ph.D., National Institute for Discovery Science (NIDS)

The following is the NIDS reply to a recent article in the Skeptics UFO Newsletter (SUN) #62 by Philip Klass suggesting that the recent multiple police officer eyewitness case on January 5, 2000 was based on the police officers mistakenly seeing the planet Venus.  R

The January 5, 2000 Illinois UFO Reconstruction

National Institute for Discovery Science (NIDS)

Video clips and background of the computer forensic reconstruction of the craft seen and described by four police officers on Jan 5, 2000 on the Discovery Channel. The reconstruction was done on location with the original eyewitnesses and is deemed an accurate simulation of the flight of the UFO.

UFO Casebook - The Illinois Sightings of January, 2000

UFO Casebook

Summary of the Illinois UFO sighting.

UFO sighting brings media attention, investigative team to Southern Illinois PDF Document

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 12, 2000

It appeared as a floating two-story house with a glowing red interior. A week later, it has attracted national media and a team of investigators led by a former FBI agent who wants to know if the object was an alien spacecraft.  R

When Planets Attack.... (Illinois UFO sighting)

Loy Lawhon, About.com

A summary of the Illinois UFO sighting, including a description of events and excerpts of transcripts from the police officers who witnessed the events. R

websites & organizations

FILM: The Edge of Reality: Illinois UFO, January 5, 2000

Darryl Barker Productions

The definitive film documentary on the famous Illinois UFO sighting of January 5, 2000. "Despite The Learning Channel and The Discovery Channel producing documentaries on the Jan. 5th, 2000 UFO over Illinois, it should be noted that the most definitive and accurate documentary was produced by independent filmmaker, Darryl Barker. His documentary is recommended for anyone that is interested in this case." - David Marler, Director, Illinois Mutual UFO Network (MUFON)

Illinois UFO Sighting: Case Updates

Darryl Barker

Updates and analysis of the January 5, 2000 Illinois UFO sighting, by Darryl Barker, producer of the definitive film documentary on the famous Illinois sighting.