A sighting of bizarre, worm-shaped cloud formations over Alaska prompted an investigation by authorities after images of the event captured on video and photographs went viral on social media – what is it?
Strange funnel cloud extends from the skies in Alaska
A worm-shaped cloud was spotted in Alaska, spiraling and extending down from a larger cloud over Lazy Mountain. It differed from a typical funnel cloud scene with tornadoes, as it was not wide at the top and narrow at the bottom but more of a long, narrow tube of equal width. The Independent reported that Alaskans posted photos and videos of the tunnel cloud to Facebook, prompting numerous theories from weather phenomena to a rocket, plane, or UFO crash.
Speculations run wild: A UFO? Or a secret weapon?
Social media was abuzz with speculation over the sighting after videos and photos were posted, Yahoo reported.
The US government’s recent acknowledgment that it has been developing hypersonic missiles and the threat of war with Russia sparked fears and further hypotheses.
“There are Auroral research rockets,” one user wrote, “and they’ve been putting those up into the air for decades.”
The user was referring to the High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program, or HAARP, a scientific endeavor aimed at studying the properties and behavior of the ionosphere, but has been connected with numerous conspiracy theories ranging from an attempt to control the weather, create earthquakes and even mind control.
“Government has been testing hypersonic missiles and aircraft,” another user offered.”
“It was aliens,” yet another user theorized.
“It was a UFO crash,” another posited.
Viewers not buying official report
Prompted by an abundance of calls, the Alaska State Troopers sent a helicopter crew to investigate the sighting, wondering if a plane had crashed.
“Troopers believe that the photos and videos showed a contrail from a commercial jet combined with the rising sun, which together created the unusual atmospheric site,” the trooper said in a statement.
“There have been no reports of overdue aircraft or ELT activations indicating an aircraft crash,” the statement continued, adding their inspection “located nothing suspicious” and “no signs of crashed aircraft.”
“Further investigation revealed that a large commercial jet was flying in that area around the time that the photos and video were taken,” the Troopers said later.
But the explanation seemed at odds with what users saw in videos of the event posted online.
“So contrails now have flames within them?” One user stated. “I’m more inclined to believe it was a rocket now.”
