New York State has experienced a notable increase in Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) reports during 2025, with over 66 documented sightings in the first half of the year. This surge, attributed partly to improved reporting methods and heightened public awareness, reflects a growing interest in these mysterious aerial occurrences. The National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC), which has been collecting such data since 1974, recorded 66 UAP sightings in New York between January and June 2025, a slight increase from the 65 reported in the same period of 2024. These sightings are spread across the state, from urban areas like New York City to smaller communities such as Evans Mills, which is near a military base.
Commonly reported UAP shapes include orbs, spheres, and triangles, often exhibiting advanced flight capabilities like abrupt turns and rapid acceleration. One notable incident occurred on March 25, 2025, in Chester, where a witness observed two white orbs performing coordinated maneuvers at high speed before transforming into dark, oval shapes and disappearing. Another event on June 24, 2025, involved a passenger on a flight near New York City reporting a metallic sphere flying below the aircraft. The increase in UAP reports aligns with a broader trend of heightened official attention, including the establishment of a Pentagon office dedicated to UAP studies that has secured full funding, indicating growing recognition of potential national security implications. While most reports remain unexplained and lack evidence of extraterrestrial technology, the continued stream of sightings underscores the need for ongoing research and transparency.