WASHINGTON – The latest Pentagon report on UFOs revealed hundreds of new reports of unidentified and unexplained aerial phenomena, but no clues to suggest an extraterrestrial origin.

The review includes hundreds of cases of misidentified balloons, birds and satellites, as well as some that defy easy explanation, such as a near miss between a commercial airliner and a mysterious object off the coast of New York.

Although unlikely to settle any debate on the existence of extraterrestrial life, the report reflects a heightened public interest in the subject and government efforts to provide some answers. Its publication comes a day after House MPs called for greater government transparency during a hearing into Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, or UAP – the government’s term for UFOs.

Federal efforts to study and identify UAPs focused on potential threats to national security or aviation safety rather than their science fiction aspects. Pentagon office officials created in 2022 to track UAPs, known as Anomaly resolution desk for all domainsor AARO, said there was no indication that any of the cases they reviewed had extraterrestrial origins.

“It is important to emphasize that, to date, AARO has not discovered any evidence of extraterrestrial beings, activity, or technology,” the report’s authors wrote.

The Pentagon’s review covered 757 cases worldwide that were reported to US authorities from May 1, 2023, to June 1, 2024. The total includes 272 incidents that occurred before that period but were not previously reported.

The vast majority of reported incidents occurred in airspace, but 49 occurred at altitudes estimated to be at least 100 kilometers (62 miles), which is considered space. None took place underwater. Reporting witnesses included commercial and military pilots as well as ground observers.

Investigators found explanations for nearly 300 of the incidents. In many cases, the unknown objects were found to be balloons, birds, planes, drones or satellites. According to the report, Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite system is an increasingly common source as people mistake satellite chains for UFOs.

Hundreds of other cases remain unexplained, although the report’s authors pointed out that this is often because there is not enough information to draw firm conclusions.

No injuries or crashes were reported in either incident, although a commercial flight crew reported a near miss with a “cylindrical object” while flying over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of New York. That incident remains under investigation.

In three other cases, military aircrews reported being followed or chased by unidentified aircraft, although investigators could find no evidence linking the activity to a foreign power.

For witnesses who provided visual descriptions, unidentified lights or round, spherical, or globe-shaped objects were usually reported. Other reports included a witness reporting a jellyfish with flashing lights.

During Wednesday’s hearing on UAP, lawmakers heard testimony from several expert witnesses who have studied the phenomenon, including two former military officers. The discussion included fanciful questions about extraterrestrial intelligence and military research using alien technology as well as concerns that foreign powers could use secret aircraft to spy on US military installations.

Lawmakers said the many questions about UAP show the need for the government to study the issue closely — and share those findings with Americans.

“There’s something there,” said Republican Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee. “The question is: is it ours, someone else’s, or is it from another world?”