The Tic Tac encounter
Navy aviators reported a white object moving unusually. Infrared footage was officially acknowledged, while full radar data remains unavailable.
Radar tracks and disturbed water
Before 14 November 2004, the USS Princeton had reportedly tracked targets descending from high altitude near the Nimitz carrier group. Commander David Fravor and Lieutenant Commander Alex Dietrich were directed towards one location and saw disturbed water below a smooth white object about forty feet long. It had no visible wings, windows, rotors or exhaust and moved towards Fravor before accelerating away.
FLIR1 and official release
The Princeton team then reported the target at the aircrew's prearranged patrol point miles away. On a later flight, Chad Underwood recorded an infrared target in the video known as FLIR1. The footage circulated publicly before the U.S. Department of Defense formally released it with two other Navy videos in April 2020. The combined pilot testimony, reported radar tracking and military video established the case's prominence.