RANK #3 NATIONALLY — 7,813 REPORTED SIGHTINGS
Washington State holds a unique position in UAP history: on June 24, 1947, Kenneth Arnold was piloting a CallAir A-2 near Mount Rainier when he observed a formation of nine crescent-shaped objects moving at extraordinary speed. His report to the media popularized the term 'flying saucer' and is widely credited with launching the modern UFO era. Mount Rainier has since been a persistent focal point for Washington sighting reports.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma and Whidbey Island Naval Air Station contribute substantial military aviation. Eastern Washington's agricultural plains — particularly the Yakima Valley — show some of the highest per-capita rates in the state and have been the subject of dedicated long-term research by local investigators.
Washington's concentration of aerospace industry — Boeing's commercial and defense operations, Blue Origin, and multiple defense contractors — means the state has a sophisticated observer population familiar with advanced aircraft design, lending credibility to anomalous reports.
Consistent with national patterns, Washington witnesses most frequently report orb and light phenomena, followed by triangular and disc-shaped objects.
Report your sighting to an established civilian organization. Your report contributes to the public record.