Joseph Gutheinz, a retired NASA inspector and current attorney, has cast doubt on the idea that UFOs are extraterrestrial in origin. He contends that far-flung alien visitations are “highly unlikely” given the immense distances from the nearest star systems—such as Proxima Centauri, which is about 25 trillion miles away. Instead, he suggests many UFO sightings can be traced to advanced military aircraft or foreign technology, not alien spacecraft.
Gutheinz pointed out that during the Cold War, the U.S. military may have deliberately used UFO narratives—like those surrounding Area 51—to mask stealth airplane development. He noted that governments might still lean on UFO myths to conceal secret technologies. He emphasized the importance of science over speculation, especially when individuals report personal encounters, encouraging them to seek proper medical or psychological evaluation.