Black triangles are unidentified flying objects described as having a triangular shape and dark color. They are usually seen at night and are reported to be large, silent, and hovering. These objects move slowly and have bright, flashing lights that can be turned off.

British sightings and UK Ministry of Defence Report

A report from the UK Ministry of Defence, which was made public and focuses on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) in the UK Air Defence Region, is called Project Condign. This report includes studies of sightings of black triangle-shaped objects.

The report explains that most, if not all, of these sightings can be explained by "buoyant plasmas," which are floating gases that can move very quickly because of electricity in the air. It also mentions that some black triangle observations may be caused by meteors entering the atmosphere. The report advises that aircraft should not try to intercept or outmaneuver these objects. Instead, pilots should keep the objects behind them to reduce the chance of a collision.

The report also explains that sometimes, when charged buoyant objects are in a loose group, a space between them may appear triangular. This happens because light does not reflect off that area, which can make it look like a black shape, such as a triangle, even though no actual object is there. This is an important point in understanding why people often report seeing black, triangular objects that may be hundreds of feet long.

The report suggests that the plasma formations, through their "magnetic, electric, or electromagnetic" fields, might cause people to see things that are not actually there.

The Project Condign report was not reviewed by other scientists, and some people question whether its findings are scientifically reliable.

Other sightings

During the early 1980s, hundreds of people said they saw unidentified flying objects (UFOs) above or near the Hudson River in New York. These objects were described as V-shaped and had bright lights around their edges. Some pilots claimed the objects were small planes flying in groups, with some seen near a local airport and parking lot.

The Belgian UFO wave began in November 1989. On November 29, more than thirty groups of people and three police teams reported seeing a large, flat, triangular object flying low over Belgium. The object had lights underneath and did not make any noise as it moved slowly across the land.

Black triangle UFOs have been reported by radar. During the 1989–1990 Belgian UFO wave, two F-16 fighter jets from the Belgian Air Force tried to find an object detected by radar, but the pilots did not see anything.

Some people have questioned the Belgian UFO wave, and a well-known photo linked to the event was later shown to be fake.

A famous event involving black triangles was the "Phoenix Lights" in 1997. On March 13, many people in Phoenix, Arizona, saw large, unidentified objects in the sky. Some witnesses said the objects formed a large "V" shape and stayed visible for several minutes. One object was reported to be over a mile wide and slowly drifted over homes, blocking the stars.

The U.S. Air Force said that during this time, military tests were being conducted with flares launched from planes.

On January 5, 2000, people in several towns in Illinois, including Highland and Dupo, reported seeing a large triangular object in the sky after 4:00 a.m. The event was shown on TV shows such as Seeing is Believing and UFOs Over Illinois. A musician named Sufjan Stevens wrote about the sighting in a song on his 2005 album Illinois. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) suggested the sightings might have been caused by a blimp used for advertising in the area.

In August 2004, people in Tinley Park and Oak Forest, Illinois, saw three red lights hovering in the sky. Similar sightings happened again in October 2004, 2005, and 2006. Some witnesses took photos and videos of the lights. Some experts believe the videos show the lights forming a triangle and moving as if connected to a dark object. The event was covered in a Dateline NBC episode and a History Channel show titled Invasion Illinois.

On January 8, 2008, about 40 people in Stephenville, Texas, saw a large triangular UFO. A pilot who had experience in flying estimated the object was half a mile wide and one mile long. Military officials in West Texas said there was no evidence that fighter jets had chased the object.

Military aircraft

Classified military aircraft may be linked to many black triangle UFO sightings. These sightings have been reported in Antelope Valley, a desert area in Southern California. This region attracts people interested in secret military projects because it is near several military research and testing locations, such as Edwards Air Force Base and United States Air Force Plant 42. A study by the National Institute for Discovery Science, which is no longer active, suggested that black triangles might be aircraft operated by the U.S. Air Force.

Some military aircraft mentioned in reports may not exist. For example, the Northrop TR-3A Black Manta is a proposed surveillance aircraft said to belong to the U.S. Air Force and developed under a secret program. It was described as a slow-moving, stealthy spy plane with a flying wing design. It was claimed to have been used during the Gulf War to help guide Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk bombers with laser targeting for bombs. However, there is little proof that the TR-3A exists. It is possible that sightings of black triangles connected to the Black Manta could be tests of a new type of reconnaissance aircraft, or that "TR-3" refers to an updated version of an existing program.

Geoscientist Ben McGee has suggested that some black triangle sightings might be border patrol drones equipped with infrared lights. These lights are used to prevent collisions or help identify the drones.