Ministry of Defence Correspondence File: Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) 1993

This document is a collection of correspondence from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Secretariat (Air Staff) 2a, dated throughout 1993. The file documents the MOD's responses to various inquiries from members of the public and civilian UFO research organizations regarding Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and crop circles. The MOD consistently maintains that its involvement in the subject is limited to determining whether reported phenomena pose a threat to the security of the United Kingdom. The correspondence clarifies that the MOD does not conduct active research or investigations into UFOs, nor does it employ staff full-time for this purpose. When reports are received, they are typically passed to relevant departments concerned with air defense as part of their normal duties. The MOD suggests that many sightings can be explained by conventional objects such as aircraft, satellites, meteors, or meteorological phenomena. The documents also address the release of historical UFO files under the 30-year rule of the Public Records Act, noting that many older files were routinely destroyed prior to 1967. The file includes discussions regarding the D-Notice system, the role of civilian groups like the British UFO Research Association (BUFORA) and Quest International, and specific inquiries about sightings in locations such as Bonnybridge, Cleveland, and Teesside. The MOD emphasizes that it does not hold fixed views on the UFO phenomenon and remains open-minded while stressing that no solid evidence for extraterrestrial origin has been produced. The correspondence also touches upon the MOD's policy regarding the release of witness details, which are typically redacted to protect privacy.