The USS Nimitz 'Tic Tac' encounter of 2004

The Tic Tac videos captured in 2004 by the US Navy remains one of the most credible and scrutinised cases of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP). On 14 November, 2004, the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group operating about 160 kilometres shouthwest of San Diego in the Pacific Ocean detected unusual radar contacts over several days. The Radar operators on the USS Princeton tracked multiple objects descending from altitudes of about 24,000 metres to near sea level in fractions of a second, implying extreme velocities and accelerations inconsistent with conventional aircraft. 

One object, later dubbed the 'Tic Tac' by pilots due to its smooth, white, oblong shape roughly 14 metres in length, was investigated by pilots in F/A-18F Super Hornets. The video was captured by the forward-looking infrared (FLIR) camera on board the aircraft. The pilots visually observed the object hovering above churning water with no visible wings, rotors or propulsion. It mirrored the movements of the jets before accelerating away at speeds defying known aerodynamics. The declassified video, about a minute long, shows a featureless oblong form exhibiting rapid lateral movements, sudden acceleration, and no heat signature from the engines, which should glow in infrared frequencies. 

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Examination of the footage by groups such as the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies estimates accelerations of 40 g to hundreds of g, with instantaneous changes in direction. Power requirements for a roughly one tonne object to perform such manoeuvres could real between one and nine gigawatts. The object reportedly jammed radar and demonstrated transmedium capability, moving seamlessly from air to water without disruption.

The Pentagon officially released the FLIR video along with recordings of later incidents in April 2020, confirming its authenticity as Navy footage. No prosaic explanation such as balloons, birds, drones or sensor artefacts fully accounts for the multi-sensor data that included radar, infrared, visual and pilot testimonies. As of 2026, the case continues to fuel UAP discussions in congressional hearings and reports. No evidence links it to foreign adversaries or secret US technology, and official statements describe it as unexplained. The incident prompted renewed government interest in UAPs, including the establishment of reporting mechanisms. This mystery remains unsolved.