USS Nimitz Tic-Tac Encounter

USS Nimitz Tic-Tac Encounter (2004)

The USS Nimitz Tic-Tac Encounter is one of the most significant modern UFO cases, distinguished by high-quality radar data, multiple credible military witnesses, and officially declassified video footage. The incident occurred in November 2004 off the coast of Southern California during U.S. Navy training exercises.

The Encounter

During carrier strike group operations approximately 100 miles southwest of San Diego, the USS Princeton — an Aegis-equipped cruiser assigned to the Nimitz carrier group — detected multiple unidentified objects on radar over several days. The objects were tracked descending from altitudes above 80,000 feet to approximately 50 feet above the ocean in seconds, then rapidly ascending again.

Commander David Fravor's Testimony

On November 14, 2004, Cdr. David Fravor and his wingman were tasked with investigating one of the radar contacts. Fravor visually observed a white, Tic-Tac-shaped object approximately 40 feet in length, with no visible wings, rotors, or exhaust plume, hovering and maneuvering above a churning section of ocean. When Fravor descended toward the object, it mirrored his movement, then accelerated instantaneously and vanished. Fravor has stated he does not believe the craft was manufactured on Earth.

The FLIR1 Video

A short time after Fravor's encounter, a second pair of F/A-18 pilots encountered the same or similar object and captured it on the aircraft's Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) camera. This footage — known as the "FLIR1" or "Tic-Tac" video — was officially declassified and released by the Department of Defense in April 2020. It shows an object with no visible propulsion moving in ways inconsistent with known aircraft.

Anomalous Characteristics

• No visible means of lift or propulsion
• Hypersonic velocity with no sonic boom
• Instantaneous changes in direction
• Ability to hover at extreme altitudes
• Apparent awareness of pursuing aircraft

Official Pentagon Confirmation

In April 2020, the Pentagon officially confirmed the authenticity of the FLIR1 video along with two other Navy UAP videos (GIMBAL and GOFAST), acknowledging that the objects depicted remain "unidentified." This confirmation was historic — the first time the U.S. government officially acknowledged the existence of credible UAP footage captured by military assets.

Connection to Bob Lazar

When filmmaker Jeremy Corbell showed Bob Lazar the Tic-Tac footage, Lazar immediately compared the craft's behavior to the "sport mode" capability he claimed the alien craft at S-4 possessed — the ability to propel itself via gravity wave manipulation, producing movement without inertia.