USS Nimitz Tic-Tac Encounter

The Encounter

On November 14, 2004, the Carrier Strike Group 11 (led by the USS Nimitz) was conducting routine combat training exercises off Southern California when advanced radar systems detected anomalous aerial vehicles. On the 14th, radar operators aboard USS Princeton achieved a lock on a single object. Commander David Fravor of Strike Fighter Squadron 41 was dispatched with his weapons officer to investigate, accompanied by Lieutenant Commander Alex Dietrich and her WSO.

The Object

Upon arrival at their designated coordinates, all four aircrews observed a large disturbance in the ocean—the water churned noticeably despite calm sea conditions with no wind-driven whitecaps. Hovering approximately 50 feet above this churning water was a white, featureless object roughly 40 feet in length, shaped like a breath mint. The craft had no visible wings, rotors, engines, or exhaust plumes.

Fravor described the object as aware of their presence, mirroring his aircraft's movements and responding to their approach. When he attempted to intercept it, the UAP accelerated with such speed that it disappeared from visual range. Within less than a minute, radar detected it approximately 60 miles away—implying hypersonic velocity with no audible sonic boom.

The Evidence

Lieutenant Commander Chad Underwood recorded approximately 90 seconds of infrared footage using the F/A-18F's ATFLIR targeting pod. This video, designated FLIR1, shows an oblong heat signature tracked against the sky as the aircraft pursues it. Advanced radar from USS Princeton documented the initial descent of 80,000 feet in less than one second.

The Pentagon officially confirmed the video's authenticity in April 2020. The object remains unidentified.

Witnessed Capabilities

The object demonstrated: hypersonic velocity without sonic boom, instant acceleration seemingly unaffected by inertia, intelligent responsive maneuvering, and transmedium travel (water-surface disturbance to airborne flight). No known human aircraft possesses this combination of capabilities.

Credibility and Aftermath

All four witnesses were military aviators with security clearances and combat experience. Fravor was highly decorated; Dietrich was a Top Gun graduate. In July 2023, Fravor testified before the House Oversight Subcommittee under oath. The case is strengthened by the convergence of credible military testimony, authenticated infrared footage, and corroborating radar data. Allegations surfaced that a longer original video (8–10 minutes) was collected and erased by unknown personnel shortly after the incident.