SOURCE: AFI
In a recent interview with ANI, Air Marshal Dilip Kumar Patnaik (Retd), a respected former officer of the Indian Air Force (IAF), shared his insights on the recent UFO sightings in India. According to Patnaik, these sightings are mostly illusions and do not reflect any genuine extraterrestrial presence. He pointed out that the majority of UFO reports in the country have been observed in regions like Ladakh and Bhuj, both of which are known for their vast, open landscapes and unique atmospheric conditions.
Patnaik, who has extensive experience in military aviation, elaborated on how such sightings could be misinterpreted. “A lot of the phenomena people are reporting as UFOs can actually be attributed to natural occurrences such as weather patterns, optical illusions, or the reflections from nearby light sources,” he said. The vastness and topographical characteristics of places like Ladakh and Bhuj, with their clear skies and high altitudes, may contribute to these misperceptions, making them more susceptible to strange visual phenomena.
He also recalled a remarkable event from nearly 14-15 years ago when the Indian Air Force’s Mig-21Bis jet fired a missile at an object that was believed to be a UFO. This incident, which gained attention at the time, serves as an example of how UFO sightings have often been taken seriously by the military. Patnaik emphasized, however, that such occurrences are rare, and military personnel are trained to treat every potential threat with caution. In this particular case, after further investigation, the object in question was determined not to be an extraterrestrial craft but rather a misidentified aircraft or atmospheric anomaly.
While the concept of UFOs, or Unidentified Flying Objects, has long captivated public imagination, Patnaik’s remarks highlight a more grounded perspective, rooted in experience and scientific analysis. He encouraged people to be cautious when interpreting strange aerial phenomena, urging that thorough investigations and logical explanations should precede any assumptions about extraterrestrial involvement.
The retired Air Marshal’s comments also come at a time when the global fascination with UFOs and possible extraterrestrial life has intensified, with several countries and military organizations releasing previously classified data on unexplained aerial phenomena. However, Patnaik’s perspective is clear: while such occurrences should not be dismissed outright, it is crucial to approach them with a critical eye, recognizing that the vast majority are explainable through natural or man-made causes.