A commercial pilot’s photo allegedly shows a ‘1,000-foot UFO’ near Four Corners, reigniting theories of alien surveillance in sacred lands.

A new photo claiming to show a 1,000-foot-wide UFO in the American Southwest has been released by unidentified aerial phenomenon disclosure activists — but critics claim the “disclosure” is more of an embarrassing mistake.

Controversial former Department of Defense employee and activist Luis “Lue” Elizondo hosted a UAP Disclosure Fund-organized panel during which he released an alleged photo of a “1,000-foot”-wide, silver, disc-shaped flying saucer.

Luis Elizondo holds up the photograph of the purported UAP (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) at the hearing on Thursday (1 May 2025).

The grainy photo was allegedly snapped by a commercial airline pilot in 2021 flying at 21,000 feet near the Four Corners landmark joining parts of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado, Elizondo claimed.

He pointed to the apparent shadow cast by the large “lenticular” object as part of the evidence for the existence of a physical craft in the photo.

The UAP disclosure advocate claimed the photo was taken by an “average camera” — but stated he “could not vouch for the veracity of this photograph, because I didn’t take it,” video showed.

Analysis of Google Maps appears to show two irrigation circles that could be mistaken for a UFO and its shadow.

Critics were quick to challenge the presentation — with many eagle-eyed debunkers claiming the photo merely showed irrigation circles that are common in desert climates.

Noted UAP debunker Mick West pointed out that shadow patterns in the hills are counterfactual to the claim that the object is creating its own shadow, according to a blog post.

Elizondo has previously come under fire for presenting evidence of UAPs or UFOs that were later debunked — with the Pentagon pushing back against claims that alien life is present on Earth.

Former State Department employee Lue Elizondo.

Former Department of Defense employee Luis “Lue” Elizondo released the alleged photo a “1,000-foot”-wide, silver, disc-shaped flying saucer. X/@LueElizondo

The grainy photo was allegedly snapped by a commercial airline pilot in 2021 as it flew at 21,000 feet near the Four Corners landmark joining parts of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado, Elizondo claimed.

The grainy photo was allegedly snapped by a commercial airline pilot in 2021 flying at 21,000 feet near the Four Corners landmark joining parts of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado, Elizondo claimed. UAP Disclosure Fund/X

The UAP Disclosure Fund panel included US Reps. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) and Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) and Harvard astrophysicist Professor Avi Loeb for a discussion Thursday in Washington, DC.

Analysis of Google Maps appears to show two irrigation circles that could be mistaken for a UFO and its shadow.