Lights over Phoenix: Resident launched balloons with flares?

PHOENIX – Late Tuesday, Phoenix TV station KNXV, ABC affiliate channel 15, is following up on a report that a resident of north Phoenix launched four helium balloons with flares attached.

According to the station's Web site, abc15.com, "ABC15's Jon DuPre talked to one north Phoenix man late Tuesday afternoon who said he watched his neighbor launch four helium balloons with flares attached to them right before the mysterious lights were spotted."

The station reported, "He said he believed this could be the source of Monday night's sightings. ABC15 knocked on the door and talked to that neighbor, who then said he didn't launch the flares, and instead it was another neighbor several doors down."

According to other news reports, a Phoenix police helicopter pilot who saw the lights stated they looked like flares to him.

Also late today, The Arizona Republic reported on its Web site, azcentral.com, a confirmation of the story about balloons and flares.

According the Republic story, "Lino Mailo, 44, said he saw his neighbor launch several helium balloons with flares attached to them from the back porch of his north Phoenix home. Mailo said the balloons took off about 8 p.m., right before the mysterious lights were spotted."

Republic reporter Zach Fowle quoted Mailo as saying, "I feel bad for the people freaking out about this. I could've put this whole thing to rest."

ARIZONANS WATCHING SKIES

At about 8 p.m. Monday night, dozens of residents called police and local media reporting four unusual bright red lights.

Local TV stations and The Arizona Republic newspaper carried the accounts along with several video clips of the lights. The Associated Press carried the reports today, reaching national and international audiences.

Phoenix residents claimed the lights seemed to move somewhat together, drifting slowly, then gradually fading out.

Witnesses quoted in the Phoenix media simply reported red lights, and made no observations of a solid craft.

This is in contrast to the March 13, 1997, incident when many witnesses stated they saw a huge V-shaped or triangular solid craft.

Former Arizona governor Fife Symington, a pilot and former Air Force officer, has also come forward saying he saw a huge solid craft that he did not believe was man-made.

OTHER SIGHTINGS

Recent sightings by dozens of residents of the Stephenville, Texas, region in January included reports of distant lights.

However, several people stated they saw a huge solid object at a low altitude that went from a hover to speeds of apparently thousands of miles per hour.

Several local police officers, a county constable and sheriff's deputy as well as a retired Texas state police officer all have reported seeing unusual objects in the time frame around January.

One police officer even tracked the speed of a large low-flying craft with his radar gun: The craft was moving at 27 miles per hour, the officer reported.

The Stephenville incidents are still under investigation.

AUTHOR NOTE TO READERS: For more information about this and related topics, please visit my Joint Recon Study Group blog. Readers who enjoyed this article may want to read my Jan. 28 piece about an unusual occurance in the north Phoenix, Deer Valley area: "Special research team targets emerging phenomena."