Air Force intelligence officials approved the release of an unclassified summary describing a civilian sighting of a large, blue triangular object observed hovering near a national security facility in the Pacific Time Zone in March 2023, according to internal email correspondence released under document identifier DOW-UAP-D51. The records, attributed to the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security, indicate the approval was granted through a derivative classification review rather than the lengthier formal declassification process typically required for Intelligence Information Reports.
The Reported Sighting
According to the declassification request summary contained in the correspondence, a civilian observer reported seeing a featureless, triangular object described as large in scale and blue in color, with a solid and unwavering silhouette. The object was said to emit "whitish blue" light from multiple points along its perimeter.
The witness reported the object hovering stationary above or near a national security facility for approximately three minutes before ascending in what they characterized as a "backing up" motion, described as "jerking" or "jumping" — explicitly distinguished from the smooth movement associated with jet propulsion. The total observation lasted approximately eight minutes at night. No altitude or speed figures were reported.
The witness stated they could not determine the object's means of propulsion, could not identify a defined front or rear, and did not believe the object was a drone. The summary also notes the observer's assessment that the object appeared to lack a defined flight path, vapor trail, data collection or photographic capabilities, and what the reporter called "cloaking capabilities" — though the document notes these latter characterizations reflect behaviors the witness did not directly observe rather than confirmed absences.
Video or imagery was apparently obtained via personal cellular device, though the correspondence does not indicate whether that material was included in or appended to the underlying Intelligence Information Report beyond a note that "the IIR and draft report are attached."
The Bureaucratic Process
The correspondence documents an exchange between an Information Disclosure Analyst at the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security and personnel within the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, with names redacted under exemption (b)(6). The original classification of the IIR was SECRET//NOFORN; the requested release level was UNCLASSIFIED.
An AFOSI official initially flagged that the standard declassification process for IIRs is "lengthy and requires AFOSI Commander signature," and indicated they were exploring alternatives. In a follow-up message, the same official confirmed that internal consultation had established authority to process the request as a derivative classification review of the unclassified summary rather than a full declassification action.
"Upon consulting internally here at HQ, our folks confirmed we do have the authority to process this as a derivative classification review, instead of a declassification request. Based upon the summary you provided below, I concur with using this at the UNCLASSIFIED level in your product. Consider your request approved."
The official's title is listed as OSI CI Collections and Operations PM and Intelligence Oversight PM, though the name is withheld. The exchange is characterized in the document as "a routine request," and the originating analyst asked simply for confirmation of receipt.
Significance and Limitations
The document is notable for several reasons. It confirms that the Air Force maintains at least some internal reporting infrastructure for civilian UAP observations near sensitive installations, that such reports can be formatted into Intelligence Information Reports at the SECRET//NOFORN level, and that a pathway exists for releasing unclassified summaries of those reports through derivative review rather than full declassification — a procedurally faster route.
What the records do not establish is the identity of the national security facility in question, the identity or credibility of the witness, whether the cellular footage was analyzed by any government body, or whether the report was ever forwarded to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office or any other UAP-specific review body. The document's trust level warrants caution: the source domain carries a moderate reliability rating, names of all officials involved are redacted, and the correspondence provides no follow-on investigative findings.
The sighting characteristics — large blue triangular shape, erratic non-ballistic movement, proximity to a national security facility, nighttime observation — overlap with a category of UAP reports that has drawn recurring congressional attention, though no connection to any broader investigation is established by this document alone. UFOPress has submitted a follow-up records request seeking the underlying IIR and any associated AARO intake documentation.