2016 UFO Sightings
Notable UFO Events of 2016
2016 — Launch of Breakthrough Listen
One of the most ambitious scientific searches for extraterrestrial intelligence in history begins with the launch of the Breakthrough Listen project at the Berkeley SETI Research Center, University of California, Berkeley.
Funded with $100 million by Russian tech billionaire Yuri Milner, the project represents the largest and most comprehensive search for alien communications ever undertaken. It is expected to run through at least 2026.
Breakthrough Listen uses thousands of hours of observation time on some of the world’s most powerful telescopes, including:
- Green Bank Observatory (radio waves)
- Parkes Observatory in Australia (radio waves)
- Automated Planet Finder at Lick Observatory (visible light / laser transmissions)
The project targets over one million nearby stars and the centers of 100 galaxies, scanning for artificial radio signals or laser transmissions that could indicate intelligent extraterrestrial civilizations.
All data collected is made publicly available, and the project also utilizes the distributed computing power of SETI@Home (BOINC) for data analysis.
Breakthrough Starshot
A sister project, Breakthrough Starshot, aims to develop a fleet of tiny light-sail interstellar probes capable of reaching the Alpha Centauri star system (4.34 light years away). Traveling at 15–20% the speed of light, these probes could reach the system in 20–30 years. A key target is Proxima Centauri b, an Earth-sized exoplanet in the habitable zone of its star.
This initiative marks a major leap forward in both the search for alien intelligence and the future of interstellar exploration.
Apollo 10 “Moon Music” & Anomalies
Declassified NASA audio from Apollo 10 captured strange “outer space type music” while orbiting the Moon. Many speculate it could be related to unknown phenomena.
Montana UFO
Dr. Richard O’conner has been taking pictures of the sky using 2 motion detection camares for the past two years, over his home in Clancy Montana, with the hope that by chance he might capture something on film.
280,000 pictures later, something was captured on film..
Mid day on Nov 4 2014 his cameras took 5 photos of a ufo flying over the skies of Montana.
The cameras used were two Reconyx Hyperfire PC 900 trail cameras. He installed them on the southeast corner of his property. The cameras were programed to take photos of any moving objects. Just about all of the pics captured were of wild life or treetops. That is, until Nov 4th.
Here are some of the photos: The ufo is located toward the bottom of the first image.
Chilean Navy UFO Video
One of the most credible UFO videos of the year was released by the Chilean Navy. The object showed unusual flight characteristics and was officially investigated.
April 2016 — Skinwalker Ranch Changes Ownership
Robert Bigelow, founder of Bigelow Aerospace, sells the infamous Skinwalker Ranch in Uintah County, Utah, to Utah real estate developer and entrepreneur **Brandon Fugal**.
Bigelow had owned the property since 1996 and invested heavily in scientific investigations of the many reported paranormal and UAP-related phenomena at the ranch. After the sale, Fugal continued research efforts on the property.
In 2020, Brandon Fugal partnered with the History Channel to produce the popular documentary series “The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch”, which entered its fifth season in 2024. The show has brought worldwide attention to the ranch’s long history of strange activity.
December 22, 2016 — Multiple Aircraft Encounter UFO off Newfoundland
On December 22, 2016, at approximately 7:10 p.m., a westbound American Airlines flight more than 185 miles south of Goose Bay, Newfoundland, reported a “possible aircraft” off its left side and below. NORAD could not confirm the target on radar, but two other commercial aircraft also reported seeing the unidentified object.
The American Airlines pilot took evasive action, making a sharp 90° turn to the right. During the maneuver, a single radar hit was detected behind the airliner. When the pilot returned to his original flight path, he visually observed an object with a rotating white light following him.
A Lufthansa flight near the Gulf of Saint Lawrence reported an object slightly below and to the left, while a Swissair flight also reported seeing a “white light and rotating beacon.”
In response, Canadian CF-18 Hornet fighter jets were scrambled to intercept “Track of Interest 2.” After approximately 90 minutes of searching, the fighters found nothing and returned to base.
The incident was officially documented in Canadian aviation records (CADORS Report 2016A1096) and later gained attention when declassified details were reported by CTV News in 2022.
2016 continued to produce high-quality UFO reports and videos from both civilian and military sources.