Aliens or just a load of hot air?
Conspiracy theories swirled as locals tried to figure out what was causing a strange cloud formation above an Alaska mountain range – with many suggesting it could be evidence of a real life UFO.
The chatter started when a local noticed a large worm-like cloud floating above Alaska’s Lazy Mountain and posted a picture of it onto the Palmer Alaska Buzz Facebook page earlier this week.
Unsurprisingly, many were quick to shoot off their thoughts as to what it was, with people suggesting everything from meteors and falling or burning aircrafts, to indisputable proof of extra-terrestrial life.
Take a look at the post below:
You can see why the images got people’s imaginations in a tizzy. The cloud’s thin, spiralling shape and almost prong-like tip certainly look more like something you’d expect to see happening before the Avengers spring into action rather than on the school run – and people were quick to share their ideas about what it could be.
“Looks like a meteor. I wonder where it landed,” said one user.
“Could it be a satellite? It’s so strange,” suggested another, before a third pointed out one issue with this theory: “no wings”.
“Looks like something from a Peter Jackson movie” joked another, while someone else tagged a mate, saying “the aliens are coming”.
With many believing the smoke had come from some kind of crashed aircraft, the Alaska State Troopers and the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center were eventually forced to chime in to shed some light on this strange sighting.
“There have been no reports of overdue aircraft or ELT activations indicating an aircraft crash. A rescue team on a helicopter flew a mission around the Lazy Mountain area this morning and located nothing suspicious and there were no signs of crashed aircraft,” they said in an official statement also posted to Facebook.
“Further investigation revealed that a large commercial jet was flying in that area around the time that the photos and video were taken. The aircraft was contacted and reported normal flight operations on its way to JFK airport in New York.
“Troopers believe that the photos and videos showed a contrail from the commercial jet combined with the rising sun which together caused the unique atmospheric sight.”
Although, that’s kind of what they would say if they were trying to hide alien life, isn’t it? Many were quick to joke about this online following the Troopers’ rather grounded explanation.
“The old swamp gas reflecting light from Venus story,” said one Facebooker who clearly wants to believe.
Although who are we kidding? We do too.
Related links:
- Death-row prisoner to face choice between electric chair and firing squad
- Pentagon has been researching how to contact ‘4,590 alien civilisations’
- Aliens ‘abducting humans and living on Earth before full invasion’, historian claims
