Phoenix Lights

Wikipedia contributors, 2026. Wikipedia.

Reference article with the evening's timeline, the Maryland ANG unit (104th Fighter Squadron, Operation Snowbird), the Ley family's account, Lt Col Ed Jones's 2007 confirmation that he flew the flare formation, and the 2007 and 2008 copycat events, each cited to the Arizona Republic, Skeptical Inquirer and Prothero and Callahan.

Phoenix Lights, 13 March 1997Web pageChecked against the original0

What it's used for here

Timeline and the later events; the cited newspaper items should replace it when retrieved.

Cited by on this site 11 records

Lights of another kind hovering over the city, as advocates maintain.

Answer

ANS

Tim Ley's drawing of the formation

ART

Lt Col Ed Jones confirmed in 2007 that he flew in the flare-dropping formation.

Evidence

EVD

The Maryland ANG A-10s were airborne that evening and landed at Davis-Monthan at about 8:45 pm.

Evidence

EVD

The reported times and track are consistent with a single passage from Prescott to Tucson.

Evidence

EVD

A Phoenix resident admits releasing helium balloons with road flares

EVT

A V-shaped object is reported over Henderson, Nevada

EVT

Tim Ley

FIG

The Phoenix Lights, 13 March 1997

The mystery article

MYS

What was the V-shaped formation seen between 8:00 and 8:45 pm?

Question

QST

Tim Ley: With his family, first saw five lights in an arc about 65 miles away;…

WIT

Cite it

Wikipedia contributors (2026). Phoenix Lights. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Lights

@misc{wikipedia-phoenix,
  author = {Wikipedia contributors},
  title = {Phoenix Lights},
  howpublished = {Wikipedia},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Lights}
}

TY  - ELEC
TI  - Phoenix Lights
AU  - Wikipedia contributors
PY  - 2026
JO  - Wikipedia
UR  - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Lights
ER  -

. “Phoenix Lights.” Wikipedia (2026).