Stingray Shaped UFO Incidents
In the study of UFOs, the term “stingray shaped,” sometimes also described as manta ray shaped, is a descriptive label used by witnesses and researchers to refer to broad, flattened aerial objects with wing-like or tapered edges that resemble the silhouette of a stingray or manta ray. Reports involving this general shape have appeared across multiple decades and geographic regions, though descriptions vary and individual cases often remain partially documented.
Several individuals with documented connections to UAP-related programs or investigations have referenced flattened or unusual craft shapes in their public statements. In a June 2026 interview, UAP whistleblower David Grusch stated that he had viewed photographs of recovered non-human craft exhibiting various morphologies, including what he described as “flat sunfish” shapes along with lenticular discs, crescent moon-shaped objects, and boomerang-type vehicles.
In written testimony submitted to Congress in November 2024, journalist and researcher Michael Shellenberger referenced notes from conversations between Eric Davis and Jacques Vallée in which Davis reportedly described two “manta ray” shaped craft allegedly recovered near Roswell in 1947 and later documented in classified materials at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. This claim originates from the broader “Zodiac” story discussed among some researchers and insiders. These statements have contributed to ongoing discussion about the potential variety of shapes associated with reported UAP recoveries.
Sightings involving flattened or ray-like objects have been reported by pilots, ground witnesses, and astronauts over several decades. One notable example comes from Oke Shannon, a former Manager of Special Projects at Los Alamos National Laboratory and a U.S. Navy veteran with a background in nuclear physics. Shannon has publicly stated that he observed a stingray-shaped UFO during his time associated with Los Alamos. While he has not provided extensive public details about the circumstances of the sighting, such as the exact date, duration, or whether he witnessed more than one object, his account is noteworthy because of his professional role at a major national laboratory and his direct use of the term “stingray-shaped.” Shannon has also discussed in interviews that some personnel at Los Alamos studied UAP unofficially, including observations conducted outside of formal work hours.
On 12 May 2022, pilot Jorge A. Arteaga recorded video of an unusual object while flying between Medellín and Santa Fe de Antioquia, Colombia. The object was initially stationary before moving toward the aircraft, and Arteaga described it as having a manta ray or stingray-like shape with a grey-white metallic appearance and smooth contours.
Descriptions of flattened and ray-like shapes have come from multiple sources over several decades. Oke Shannon, a former Manager of Special Projects at Los Alamos National Laboratory, stated that he personally observed a stingray-shaped UFO during his time there. In addition, David Grusch reported viewing photographs of recovered non-human craft that included what he described as “flat sunfish” shapes. References to manta ray-shaped craft in early crash retrieval programs have also appeared in notes from Eric Davis and Jacques Vallée, later cited in congressional materials by Michael Shellenberger. Continued documentation of these shape descriptions remains valuable for understanding the range of reported UAP morphologies.
