More Than 4,100 Illinoisans Claimed To See UFOs In Past Year: Report

ILLINOIS — More than 4,100 people in Illinois have claimed to have spotted an unidentified flying object over the past year, ranking the state among the top 10 in the country for such sightings, according to a new report.

While Illinois’ 4,111 reported UFO sightings rank well behind national leader California, which finished first in possible sightings with more than 15,000, according to the travel experts at Travel Lens, the state has become no stranger to sightings of these unexplained objects in the sky.

“Now, we’re not saying that if you visit these states it’s guaranteed you’ll catch an alien in the flesh. But the numbers show us that the states in the top ten are yielding a huge number of sightings, year after year,” a spokesperson for Travel Lens said in a news release.

“It’s definitely worth doing some research and visiting these states if you have a real interest in extraterrestrial life. Even if you don't, it can be great fun with friends and family to visit new places and explore all they have to offer.”

The report indicates that California, Florida, Washington, Texas, and New York ranked among the best places to spot UFOs. Illinois finished just ahead of Michigan to round out the Top 10 states for reported sightings.

Seven of the Illinois sightings have taken place in the past two months alone, as residents of both Chicago and its suburbs have reported spotting unusual objects while looking into the sky.

A full list of Illinois sightings can be found here, but here’s just a sampling of local residents who filed reports:

In Crystal Lake, a resident reported a “red circular orb” that was moving slowly and then disappeared into the night sky, the person said. The viewing lasted just two seconds, but, according to Travel Lens, the person was able to capture an image of the object.

An Arlington Heights resident spotted what they said was a neon green long rectangular object with a pointed end that was traveling to the southwest, the person said.

A sky gazer at Chicago’s Montrose Harbor reported seeing “a three-pointed starfish craft with fire underneath” that was situated well above the incoming aircraft making their way toward the airport in the skies above Lake Michigan, the person said.

In River Forest, a person reports having seen “two silver spherical shapes” in the sky. The person believed the items could have been balloons, “but decided to file a report anyway.”