The 1997 Phoenix Lights incident involved numerous witnesses reporting various numbers of lights in the sky over Phoenix, Arizona. Initial explanations, such as airplanes or weather phenomena, were ruled out. The most plausible explanation seemed to be military flares, but a confusing press conference and further witness accounts added layers of mystery.
Thousands of people witnessed mysterious lights in the Phoenix sky in 1997.
Initial explanations (airplanes, weather phenomena) were debunked.
The most likely explanation was military flares, although this was never definitively confirmed.
A state government press conference attempted to dismiss the event as a misunderstanding, but this only fueled public suspicion.