UFO Sightings in Illinois
4,055 UFO sightings reported in Illinois since 1946, peaking in 2012 (270 reports); most often described as light.
- Total sightings
- 4,055
- Span
- 1946–2025
- Peak year
- 2012 (270 reports)
- Dominant shape
- Light
1946–2025 · peak 2012 (270 reports)
Top cities in Illinois
Chicago
1952–2021 · peak 2012 (29 reports)
Tinley Park
1971–2021 · peak 2004 (92 reports)
Rockford
1964–2022 · peak 2001 (42 reports)
Springfield
1979–2021 · peak 2020 (8 reports)
Oak Lawn
1946–2020 · peak 2010 (10 reports)
Orland Park
1995–2019 · peak 2005 (15 reports)
Peoria
1966–2020 · peak 2012 (7 reports)
Naperville
1997–2022 · peak 2001 (4 reports)
Northbrook
1999–2022 · peak 2020 (16 reports)
Bloomington
1972–2020 · peak 2012 (5 reports)
Oak Forest
2003–2016 · peak 2005 (18 reports)
Aurora
1995–2022 · peak 2012 (5 reports)
Plainfield
1999–2020 · peak 2016 (5 reports)
Joliet
1979–2021 · peak 2012 (5 reports)
Palatine
1961–2021 · peak 2012 (4 reports)
Crystal Lake
1968–2021 · peak 2011 (4 reports)
Norris City
2018–2022 · peak 2018 (13 reports)
Elgin
1982–2021 · peak 2013 (4 reports)
Frankfort
1996–2017 · peak 2004 (4 reports)
Lombard
1997–2019 · peak 2013 (4 reports)
Oregon · IL, USA
We saw flashing, into wasn’t a plane or radio tower, then it disappeared into the night.
Oregon · IL, USA
Bright light shoots at car... time unaccounted for!
Gilberts · IL, USA
Arrow like figure shot across the sky. ((anonymous report))
Knoxville · IL, USA
Bright orange lights seen by a family of 4 in rural Knoxville, Illinois.
Galesburg · IL, USA
Fire spots with sparks in the southern sky - several miles to the south and pretty high in sky (45 degree angle from ground?)
Macomb · IL, USA
A light would appear, following by one or more lights slightly in front of it which sometimes looked like fireworks or some kind of exp
Lewistown · IL, USA
Red and white lights on flying objects that appeared to be rotating. Lights disappeared and reappeared. ((anonymous report))
Macomb · IL, USA
A light would appear, followed by one or more lights slightly in front of it which sometimes looked like fireworks or some kind of expl
Sparland · IL, USA
Surprised to see black triangles in my pics that i didn't see with own eyes.
Sparland · IL, USA
I was getting ready to go to bed and my dog started whining. I look outside and saw a huge orangeish red fiery light. I got pics and vi
Oak Lawn · IL, USA
Orange ball flying above FAA drone heights near Midway Airport.
Fairview Heights · IL, USA
Consistently changing aircraft, odd jet sound once close enough, started out cigar shape, heading Southeast to becoming disk shape l
Richton Park · IL, USA
Extremely bright, white lights, pulsating, hovering and did not appear to be moving, then vanished into thin air.
Bunker Hill · IL, USA
Very bright white light, cylinder shape, moving straight down. When it hit the ground, it flashed red and disappeared. ((anonymous))
Batavia · IL, USA
Three lights, arranged in such as manner as to portray a submarine, only in my field of view for about 30 sec. ((anonymous report))
Lawrenceville · IL, USA
My little dog was barking like crazy in the dogpen. My big dog was inside and clawing at the backdoor. I went to the backdoor to let
Northbrook · IL, USA
MADAR Node 148
North Brook · IL, USA
MADAR Node 148
Hanna City · IL, USA
There were 3 lights in the sky and only one was moving, but the other two stood still. The lights were white but they had 3 or 4 lights
Benld · IL, USA
UFO 3 flying in synchronized up down side ways one part of formation left left huge cloud line going up
Galatia · IL, USA
October 15th, 2019 Greetings, I am an Honorably Discharged U.S. Marine Veteran and served during the Vietnam Era... I've always been
Mt. Prospect · IL, USA
Orb doing figure eights, loud booms. ((anonymous report))
Wadsworth · IL, USA
I looked up because my star gazer app alerted me that it was clear tonight. I was looking for a meteor shower and spotted (1) black t
Spring Grove/Fox Lake · IL, USA
Large Super Bright White Stationary Light, Stationary, Lakemoor, Spring Grove, Il. 2:09 AM - 2:30AM NW Sky.
Streator · IL, USA
Was driving S on rt. 23, when I observed a thick long cloud that was in front of the sun. Also noticed a metallic. ((anonymous rept.))