Unknown: Elizondo warns Mellon of UAP airspace violations
In January 2017, Luis Elizondo alerted former Defense official Christopher Mellon that unidentified aerial objects were penetrating restricted US airspace frequently for years, unbeknownst to defense and intelligence agencies. He expressed concern over potential threats to naval groups and advanced capabilities surpassing known US technology.
Background
Background
In January 2017, Luis Elizondo, former head of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), passed crucial information to the former defence official Christopher Mellon. Elizondo reported repeated intrusions into sensitive US airspace by unknown objects.
Key Information
These incidents occurred weekly or daily over a period of years and remained unknown to the defence department and the intelligence community. Elizondo warned of covert reconnaissance against US Navy strike groups and other critical military assets. In some cases the objects showed performance beyond anything in the US inventory, including classified platforms from Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, Boeing Phantom Works, and other suppliers.
Witnesses and Evidence
Luis Elizondo and Christopher Mellon are the central figures. Mellon, once deputy assistant secretary of defense for intelligence, made this public in 2022. Elizondo's statements rest on his insider knowledge from the Pentagon.
Significance
The exchange underlines the urgency of UAP as a potential security gap and contributed to the later release of videos such as FLIR, GIMBAL, and GOFAST. It marks a turning point in the UAP debate by exposing bureaucratic indifference.