New York state has documented 66 Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) sightings in the first six months of 2025, as reported by the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC).

With these 66 diverse events recorded from January to the end of June, the state has received accounts of various enigmatic aerial anomalies, such as luminous orbs, silent triangles, rapid-moving disks, and lights changing shape.

The incidents, according to NUFORC, span rural hamlets, suburban skies and the bustling airspace of the Big Apple.

The NUFORC had 65 reported UFO sightings in New York in the first half of 2024.

Initially, the observer mistook the objects for birds, but their exceptional speed and coordinated, wavering flight caught attention. As they traversed the sky, the objects took an abrupt, near 90-degree turn to the northwest without slowing down, according to the witness. 

At that moment, they transformed into dark, aerodynamic ovals that nearly disappeared into the night sky, according to the report. The witness described the orbs as momentarily pitch black.

A handful of these sightings also included photographic or video evidence, although NUFORC has not released digital evidence.

Other entries speculated about plausible explanations, like drones, aircraft, fireworks and even the International Space Station. The bulk of reports from NUFORC remain open and unexplained.

April through June represented a peak in activity, aligning with warmer months that typically encourage outdoor observations.

Another remarkable incident reportedly occurred on June 24, 2025, during a commercial flight approaching New York City. 

A passenger seated in 1A reported to NUFORC that they witnessed a metallic ball flying in the opposite direction, roughly 100 to 200 feet below the aircraft. 

The witness, arriving from Toronto, described the object as a perfectly round, shiny sphere that caught his eye due to its metallic gleam. 

The witness noted that the object did not resemble a balloon or stationary object, saying it moved steadily away from the aircraft. 

The passenger immediately alerted the pilots upon landing, though neither reported seeing the object. Despite this, the observer remained convinced of the object’s extraordinary nature.

NUFORC was founded in 1974 by UFO investigator Robert J. Gribble and aims to document and investigate unexplained sightings across the world.

“The Center’s primary function over the past five decades has been to receive, record, and to the greatest degree possible, corroborate and document reports from individuals who have been witness to unusual, possibly UFO-related events,” the website says.