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Strange sightings and close encounters Strange sightings and close encounters
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The documents contain UFO sketches from eyewitness accountsThe documents contain UFO sketches from eyewitness accounts
The latest release of once top-secret documents regarding UFO reports in the UK sees another round of odd sketches, strange sightings and close encounters set free into the public domain.The latest release of once top-secret documents regarding UFO reports in the UK sees another round of odd sketches, strange sightings and close encounters set free into the public domain.
Not only are there claims of the general public having been the subject of UFO scrutiny, but one is even said to have been seen around the home of a top politician.Not only are there claims of the general public having been the subject of UFO scrutiny, but one is even said to have been seen around the home of a top politician.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) received reports of a large, triangular UFO hovering in the sky above former Conservative Home Secretary Michael Howard's home near Folkestone, Kent, on 8 March 1997.The Ministry of Defence (MoD) received reports of a large, triangular UFO hovering in the sky above former Conservative Home Secretary Michael Howard's home near Folkestone, Kent, on 8 March 1997.
Government correspondence, local newspaper reports and details of an RAF investigation into the sighting all feature in the newly released files.Government correspondence, local newspaper reports and details of an RAF investigation into the sighting all feature in the newly released files.
Eyewitnesses in Burmarsh and New Romney reported seeing the "humming" object, said to have been the size of two passenger planes.Eyewitnesses in Burmarsh and New Romney reported seeing the "humming" object, said to have been the size of two passenger planes.
'Huge triangle''Huge triangle'
Newspaper cuttings from the time reveal Chris Rolfe, co-ordinator of group UFO Monitoring East Kent (UFOMEK), warned how the UFO could have been looking for Mr Howard.Newspaper cuttings from the time reveal Chris Rolfe, co-ordinator of group UFO Monitoring East Kent (UFOMEK), warned how the UFO could have been looking for Mr Howard.
Mr Rolfe said: "It would seem the UFO was disinterested in Sophie, the girl who reported it and watched it for quite a long time.Mr Rolfe said: "It would seem the UFO was disinterested in Sophie, the girl who reported it and watched it for quite a long time.
"This certainly makes it seem like it had a purpose and has left me wondering if its purpose had something to do with Mr Howard.""This certainly makes it seem like it had a purpose and has left me wondering if its purpose had something to do with Mr Howard."
The window then went all white and the man whooshed through the window Report on UFO sighting Hundreds of UFO reports releasedThe window then went all white and the man whooshed through the window Report on UFO sighting Hundreds of UFO reports released
UFOMEK compiled its own report on the sighting and sent it to the prime minister, the Home Office and the MoD.UFOMEK compiled its own report on the sighting and sent it to the prime minister, the Home Office and the MoD.
One eyewitness account in the UFOMEK report said: "It was just a huge triangle thing, which was a lot bigger than an aeroplane or anything like that.One eyewitness account in the UFOMEK report said: "It was just a huge triangle thing, which was a lot bigger than an aeroplane or anything like that.
"It had lights all around the outside, and this disc attached to the back, and a big light on the front. I pulled up to a stop and as I did it shot off.""It had lights all around the outside, and this disc attached to the back, and a big light on the front. I pulled up to a stop and as I did it shot off."
The RAF investigation into the sighting found nothing unusual.The RAF investigation into the sighting found nothing unusual.
Alien illnessAlien illness
This detail and more UFO encounters are revealed in the fifth instalment of document releases, part of a three-year project between the MoD and The National Archives.This detail and more UFO encounters are revealed in the fifth instalment of document releases, part of a three-year project between the MoD and The National Archives.

DRAWINGS FROM THE UFO FILES

Many of the released files included sketches. A craft containing three beings was drawn by a passenger on a flight from Heathrow to Hong Kong in 1993.
A drawing and description of a "flying saucer" sighting over Watford in Hertfordshire was also among the 6,000 pages of newly-released documents.
A sighting above Trenale Lane, near Tintagel, Cornwall, was also documented. The artist identified a dome at the front of the craft as the cockpit.
Another eyewitness submitted a drawing of a triangle-shaped craft seen close to a pylon above Knutsford in Cheshire.
Two "missile-shaped" UFOs were also captured in a sketch by a witness in Smethwick, West Midlands, in 1954.
A triangle-shaped craft was also drawn by a witness who described seeing it above Oldbury, West Midlands, on 9 August 1995.
Another notes the diameter of the unidentified craft they saw flying above their car in Malmesbury in Wiltshire.
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It consists of 24 files, covering more than 6,000 pages of material spanning from 1994 to 2000 and detailing sightings and relevant correspondence.It consists of 24 files, covering more than 6,000 pages of material spanning from 1994 to 2000 and detailing sightings and relevant correspondence.
In another account, a man in Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, claimed to have seen a UFO as he was driving his car on a clear and dry night, at 10.40pm, on 27 January 1997.In another account, a man in Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, claimed to have seen a UFO as he was driving his car on a clear and dry night, at 10.40pm, on 27 January 1997.
In his report to police the following day, the man, from Newport, Gwent, said his car had been surrounded for five minutes by a "tube of light" which had swept towards him from the north east, during which time both his radio and mobile phone stopped working.In his report to police the following day, the man, from Newport, Gwent, said his car had been surrounded for five minutes by a "tube of light" which had swept towards him from the north east, during which time both his radio and mobile phone stopped working.
The man reported that he felt ill following his brush with the unknown.The man reported that he felt ill following his brush with the unknown.
The report said: "He felt and was indeed sick later on. He is still feeling ill today (28/1/97) and has developed a skin condition. Advised to see doctor."The report said: "He felt and was indeed sick later on. He is still feeling ill today (28/1/97) and has developed a skin condition. Advised to see doctor."
This sort of episode would be classed by UFO experts as a "close encounter of the second kind" - UFO sightings followed by an associated physical effect.This sort of episode would be classed by UFO experts as a "close encounter of the second kind" - UFO sightings followed by an associated physical effect.
Plane sightingPlane sighting
In another report, recorded on 11 June 1997 without a location, a man claimed he had been visited by a flying man - what is referred to as a "close encounter of the third kind".In another report, recorded on 11 June 1997 without a location, a man claimed he had been visited by a flying man - what is referred to as a "close encounter of the third kind".
The man said he had been sat in his living room, where he also slept, when a man walked in and lay on his quilt.The man said he had been sat in his living room, where he also slept, when a man walked in and lay on his quilt.
This is the fifth instalment of document releases on UFO sightingsThis is the fifth instalment of document releases on UFO sightings
The report said: "The window then went all white and the [visiting] man whooshed through the window.The report said: "The window then went all white and the [visiting] man whooshed through the window.
"[The witness] then called the police who wouldn't come to his house because they thought he was 'a nutter', so he phoned Scotland Yard and the fire brigade."[The witness] then called the police who wouldn't come to his house because they thought he was 'a nutter', so he phoned Scotland Yard and the fire brigade.
"He wanted the police to see the quilt where the man had been because the indentation showed that the person just lifted off the quilt without getting up from it in a normal way."He wanted the police to see the quilt where the man had been because the indentation showed that the person just lifted off the quilt without getting up from it in a normal way.
"The man stressed that he was not a crank and was not on drugs.""The man stressed that he was not a crank and was not on drugs."
The pilots of a Boeing 737 aircraft had a "near miss" with a UFO on 6 January 1995 while they were approaching Manchester Airport, the files reveal.The pilots of a Boeing 737 aircraft had a "near miss" with a UFO on 6 January 1995 while they were approaching Manchester Airport, the files reveal.
The pilots of British Airways flight 5061 reported the incident as they flew over the Pennines en route from Milan, Italy.The pilots of British Airways flight 5061 reported the incident as they flew over the Pennines en route from Milan, Italy.
Captain Roger Wills and co-pilot First Officer Mark Stuart both saw a lit object fly down the right-hand side of the aircraft at high speed from the opposite direction.Captain Roger Wills and co-pilot First Officer Mark Stuart both saw a lit object fly down the right-hand side of the aircraft at high speed from the opposite direction.
The men were able to track the object through the right-hand windscreen and side window, having sight of it for about two seconds.The men were able to track the object through the right-hand windscreen and side window, having sight of it for about two seconds.
Manchester Air Traffic Control did not record any known traffic in the vicinity on radar and the incident was investigated by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).Manchester Air Traffic Control did not record any known traffic in the vicinity on radar and the incident was investigated by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
But neither it nor the MoD could find evidence of extra-terrestrial activity.But neither it nor the MoD could find evidence of extra-terrestrial activity.