For decades, concerns about unidentified flying objects were widely considered the purview of conspiracy theorists and other fringe groups. And since attempts to research UFO sightings do tend to expose people to some elaborate conspiracy theories, it's not like that perception comes out of nowhere.
Still, it's hard not to wonder what exactly we are looking at when someone spots a mysterious object in the sky. And in recent years, that curiosity and concern is becoming increasingly prevalent among members of Congress as a COVID-19 relief bill that passed back in January featured an unrelated clause requiring the Pentagon to release all files related to "Unidentified Aerial Phenomena."
With transparency into such matters apparently being the order of the day, it perhaps shouldn't come as a surprise that American Airlines would be so forthcoming about a UFO one of their pilots recently encountered over New Mexico.