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The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) submitted a report of an unidentified anomalous phenomenon (UAP) to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) consisting of a single still image, according to records released by the U.S. Department of War. The document, titled “FBI Photo B9” and released under the PURSUE archive on May 8, 2026, describes an incident dated to late 2025 in the Western United States.
The official description states that the image was “derived from a U.S. military system in 2025” and that the “original imagery was altered with redactions before being submitted to AARO.” An accompanying mission report was not provided. The operator reported that they were unable to positively identify the UAP. The record also notes that the date in the image is incorrect due to the system date and time not being set.
Image Description and Official Context
The FBI document includes a narrative description of the image, provided for informational purposes only. According to this description, the monochrome image displays a grainy texture with a central crosshair reticle. A small, dark, circular object is visible just below and to the left of the center of the reticle. The background appears to show an indistinct mountain range. The document explicitly cautions that readers should not interpret any part of this description as reflecting an analytical judgment, investigative conclusion, or factual determination regarding the described event’s validity, nature, or significance.
The record’s official summary offers limited detail beyond the image’s existence and the circumstances of its submission. The FBI document does not specify what type of U.S. military system captured the original imagery, nor does it explain the nature of the redactions applied before the image was forwarded to AARO. The absence of an accompanying mission report means that operational context—such as the duration of the sighting, the altitude of the object, or the specific location within the Western United States—remains unknown.
This release is part of a broader declassification effort. Per a Wikipedia summary of the United States UFO files, these records are “a collection of declassified United States government records concerning UFOs, also called unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs), released by the administration of Donald Trump beginning on May 8, 2026, and announced to continue as repeated, ongoing, expanding releases of UFO materials.” The Wikipedia entry notes that the releases are ongoing, suggesting that additional documents may become available over time.
What Remains Unanswered
The “FBI Photo B9” document raises several questions that are not addressed in the released material. The redactions applied to the original imagery obscure whatever information was deemed sensitive, and the lack of a mission report prevents independent verification of the operator’s account. The incorrect system date further complicates efforts to place the event in a precise chronological context, though the official description places the incident in late 2025.
It is also unclear why the FBI—rather than a military branch—submitted this particular image to AARO, which is the Department of Defense’s office for coordinating UAP investigations. The document does not explain the FBI’s role in the incident or whether the bureau had any direct involvement in the original observation.
Readers should watch for future PURSUE releases, which the Trump administration announced as ongoing and expanding. Subsequent documents may provide additional context for this image, including the mission report that was not included in this release, or clarify the nature of the redactions. Until then, the “FBI Photo B9” record stands as a single, partially obscured piece of a larger puzzle, with the official description explicitly refraining from any judgment on the event’s validity or significance.
