UNCLASSIFIED // PUBLIC RELEASERELEASE 02 · MAY 22, 2026
PENTAGON UFO FILE · VIDEO · DOW-UAP-PR073IIR 1 655 S0053 23/Several Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Encountered In The Vicinity of Columbus OH
This clip is filed with an Intelligence Information Report whose title reads “Several Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Encountered In The Vicinity of Columbus OH.” AARO dates the footage to November 2022, places it in U.S. Northern Command’s area, and believes it was recorded by an infrared sensor on a U.S. military platform. It was posted on a classified network in March 2023 and is set over the American Midwest.
Two targets in under a minute and a half
After a few blank seconds the operator centers a small patch of contrast and cycles through contrast modes and magnifications while keeping it in view. Between 00:38 and 00:41 the target seems to rotate — and AARO attributes this to the sensor’s changing angle on the target, not to the object turning. From 00:42 a second contrast area comes in from the top and crosses the picture until it disappears behind a redacted part of the on-screen display. The first target fades at 01:17; at 01:20 a rotation of the sensor briefly brings the second back before it leaves at the top.
Why the rotation note matters
Apparent rotation caused by a camera’s own geometry has been debated in other well-known UAP videos, and here AARO states the camera explanation directly. AARO’s description mentions two contrast areas, not “several.” The report shares its “1 655” prefix with DOW-UAP-PR070 from Eglin. AARO’s timeline is not an analytical conclusion. See also FLIR.
The official description
From war.gov/UFO, released May 22, 2026, quoted in full
On March 6, 2026, eight members of the U.S. House of Representatives requested access to 51 potentially UAP-related records allegedly held by the Department of War and the Intelligence Community. The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) identified a collection of responsive materials held on a classified network. Many of these materials lack a substantiated chain-of-custody.
AARO assesses that this video, whose uploader-defined title is, “IIR 1 655 S0053 23/Several Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Encountered In The Vicinity of Columbus OH,” is likely derived from an infrared sensor aboard a U.S. military platform operating within the United States Northern Command area of responsibility in November 2022. A user uploaded this video to a classified network in March 2023.
Video Duration: 00:01:28 Video Description: 00:00-00:04: No content. 00:05-00:07: The sensor pans to center a small area of contrast within its field-of-view. 00:11-00:37: The sensor cycles contrast modes and zoom levels while the area of contrast remains generally within the sensor field-of-view. 00:38-00:41: The orientation of the sensor relative to the area of contrast causes the area of contrast to appear to rotate. 00:42-01:14: A second area of contrast enters the frame from near the center of the top of the screen. It transits the sensor field-of-view, before becoming obscured by a redacted visual element of the sensor display. 01:17: The initial area of contrast loses distinctiveness against the background. 01:20: The sensor rotates, causing the second area of contrast to re-enter the scene before exiting the frame at the center of the top of the screen. 01:23-01:28: No content.
This video description is provided for informational purposes only. Readers should not interpret any part of this description as reflecting an analytical judgment, investigative conclusion, or factual determination regarding the described event’s validity, nature, or significance.