1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,840 on this episode of Expedition X. 2 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:04,340 Okay, let's do this. 3 00:00:04,340 --> 00:00:08,680 My team travels into the notorious Ring of Fire, 4 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:10,720 a hotbed of seismic activity 5 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:13,880 to one of the world's most volatile volcanoes. 6 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:15,960 Look at that smoke coming out of there. 7 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:18,460 Where they dig into eyewitness accounts. 8 00:00:18,460 --> 00:00:21,960 Wait, the plane hit the object in the sky. 9 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:23,000 Yeah. 10 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:24,760 And dramatic videos... 11 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:26,500 It's a movie. 12 00:00:26,500 --> 00:00:28,040 ...of UFOs. 13 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:29,080 Ooh. 14 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:30,280 They saw a bright flash. 15 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:31,980 Did you really? 16 00:00:31,980 --> 00:00:34,480 To find out why mysterious flying objects 17 00:00:34,480 --> 00:00:37,620 seem drawn to this smoke-spuing crater, 18 00:00:37,620 --> 00:00:39,920 Phil takes to the skies. 19 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:41,220 Wait, what is that flying? 20 00:00:41,220 --> 00:00:42,220 See that? 21 00:00:42,220 --> 00:00:44,620 While Jess breaks out high-tech cameras 22 00:00:44,620 --> 00:00:46,160 and tracking devices... 23 00:00:46,160 --> 00:00:47,160 All set? 24 00:00:47,160 --> 00:00:48,160 We're all good. 25 00:00:48,160 --> 00:00:49,160 Let's do this. 26 00:00:49,160 --> 00:00:51,200 ...on a mission to investigate one of mankind's 27 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:52,960 oldest questions. 28 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:54,900 Are we alone? 29 00:00:54,900 --> 00:00:56,640 Holy s***, Danny. Look, look, look. 30 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:57,640 Do you see that? 31 00:00:57,660 --> 00:00:59,400 All right, that's a problem. 32 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:02,240 It's a dangerous journey to uncover. 33 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:03,940 Oh, s***, s***, Jess! 34 00:01:03,940 --> 00:01:04,940 S***! 35 00:01:04,940 --> 00:01:07,780 Ring of Fire, UFOs. 36 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:12,180 My name is Josh Gates. 37 00:01:12,180 --> 00:01:15,120 In my travels, I've experienced strange things 38 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:18,860 that defy logic and made me question everything. 39 00:01:18,860 --> 00:01:20,560 Oh, my God. 40 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:23,160 Now, I've put together a team to investigate 41 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:26,060 the stranger side of the unknown. 42 00:01:26,060 --> 00:01:27,060 Let's go! 43 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:30,100 Phil Torres is a scientist who hunts 44 00:01:30,100 --> 00:01:32,100 for rational explanations. 45 00:01:32,100 --> 00:01:33,100 This is incredible. 46 00:01:33,100 --> 00:01:35,600 It actually felt so close. 47 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:37,940 Jessica Chobot's paranormal research 48 00:01:37,940 --> 00:01:40,380 has made her a true believer. 49 00:01:40,380 --> 00:01:42,520 If you're here with us, knock again. 50 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:44,720 Together, we're searching for answers... 51 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:46,280 What is happening here, Jess? 52 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:49,920 ...to the world's most extraordinary mysteries. 53 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:52,700 This is Expedition X. 54 00:01:53,700 --> 00:01:58,700 All right, Jess, Phil, how many flights 55 00:01:58,700 --> 00:02:00,700 would you say you've been on at this point? 56 00:02:00,700 --> 00:02:02,700 Oh, I mean, too many to count. 57 00:02:02,700 --> 00:02:03,700 Hundreds, probably. 58 00:02:03,700 --> 00:02:04,700 Wait, are we looking for ghosts on a plane? 59 00:02:04,700 --> 00:02:06,700 Are we looking for snakes on a plane? 60 00:02:06,700 --> 00:02:07,700 Because I'd get on that plane. 61 00:02:07,700 --> 00:02:09,700 No, it's not ghosts or snakes on a plane. 62 00:02:09,700 --> 00:02:11,700 But it is about something mysterious 63 00:02:11,700 --> 00:02:13,700 flying over the skies of Mexico. 64 00:02:13,700 --> 00:02:15,700 Both commercial and military pilots 65 00:02:15,700 --> 00:02:17,700 have recently come forward with reports 66 00:02:17,700 --> 00:02:21,700 of strange objects and mysterious lights 67 00:02:21,700 --> 00:02:23,700 that they've seen over Mexico City. 68 00:02:23,700 --> 00:02:27,700 So strange objects, mysterious lights. 69 00:02:27,700 --> 00:02:29,700 So we're talking UFOs. 70 00:02:29,700 --> 00:02:30,700 Yeah, I mean... 71 00:02:30,700 --> 00:02:32,700 Listen, you can still be a skeptic 72 00:02:32,700 --> 00:02:34,700 and use the term UFO. 73 00:02:34,700 --> 00:02:36,700 Yes, these are unidentified flying objects. 74 00:02:36,700 --> 00:02:37,700 Can I try? 75 00:02:37,700 --> 00:02:38,700 Go for it. 76 00:02:38,700 --> 00:02:39,700 UFO. 77 00:02:39,700 --> 00:02:40,700 Oh, yay! 78 00:02:40,700 --> 00:02:41,700 Feels good, doesn't it, Phil? 79 00:02:41,700 --> 00:02:42,700 Oh, kind of good. 80 00:02:42,700 --> 00:02:43,700 Yeah, yeah. 81 00:02:43,700 --> 00:02:46,700 And UFOs have become quite the hot topic these days, 82 00:02:46,700 --> 00:02:49,700 especially since the Pentagon released that report in 2021, 83 00:02:49,700 --> 00:02:52,700 basically admitting these things are flying around 84 00:02:52,700 --> 00:02:54,700 and they don't know what they are. 85 00:02:54,700 --> 00:02:57,700 So now the whole world is starting to focus on this phenomenon. 86 00:02:57,700 --> 00:03:01,700 And in this particular case, it's not just these pilots. 87 00:03:01,700 --> 00:03:03,700 There are air traffic controllers 88 00:03:03,700 --> 00:03:04,700 that have come forward with reports 89 00:03:04,700 --> 00:03:07,700 and hundreds of eyewitnesses on the ground. 90 00:03:07,700 --> 00:03:09,700 And all this activity seems to be centered 91 00:03:09,700 --> 00:03:13,700 around one geological feature, an active volcano. 92 00:03:19,700 --> 00:03:24,700 December 1994, 43 miles southeast of Mexico City, 93 00:03:24,700 --> 00:03:27,700 the Popo Catepital Volcano reawakens. 94 00:03:27,700 --> 00:03:30,700 At nearly 3.5 miles high, 95 00:03:30,700 --> 00:03:34,700 El Popo becomes one of the largest active volcanoes in the world, 96 00:03:34,700 --> 00:03:37,700 spewing plumes of ash and smoke. 97 00:03:37,700 --> 00:03:39,700 And it hasn't stopped. 98 00:03:39,700 --> 00:03:43,700 Over 20 million people live in El Popo's shadow, 99 00:03:43,700 --> 00:03:46,700 and the threat of a major eruption is so great, 100 00:03:46,700 --> 00:03:51,700 authorities have set up 24-7 live video feeds of the volcano. 101 00:03:51,700 --> 00:03:55,700 But it seems these cameras are catching more than just volcanic activity. 102 00:03:55,700 --> 00:03:59,700 Some say they're documenting UFOs. 103 00:03:59,700 --> 00:04:02,700 In the years since the reawakening, 104 00:04:02,700 --> 00:04:07,700 mysterious objects are often spotted in the sky around the crater. 105 00:04:07,700 --> 00:04:10,700 But unlike rock fragments expelled from eruptions, 106 00:04:10,700 --> 00:04:13,700 these objects seem to have a life of their own, 107 00:04:13,700 --> 00:04:16,700 with unpredictable trajectories. 108 00:04:16,700 --> 00:04:20,700 And there are witnesses who have reported close encounters 109 00:04:20,700 --> 00:04:23,700 with these airborne anomalies. 110 00:04:24,700 --> 00:04:28,700 January 10, 2007. 111 00:04:28,700 --> 00:04:31,700 A commercial aircraft from the state of Tabasco 112 00:04:31,700 --> 00:04:33,700 prepares to land in Mexico City. 113 00:04:33,700 --> 00:04:36,700 As the plane cruises past El Popo, 114 00:04:36,700 --> 00:04:39,700 the crew spots an intensely bright light in the sky, 115 00:04:39,700 --> 00:04:42,700 traveling alongside the aircraft. 116 00:04:42,700 --> 00:04:44,700 Suddenly, the object accelerates, 117 00:04:44,700 --> 00:04:48,700 vanishing into the thick clouds around the volcano. 118 00:04:48,700 --> 00:04:50,700 The pilots can't believe their eyes 119 00:04:50,700 --> 00:04:54,700 and immediately report it to air traffic control. 120 00:04:54,700 --> 00:04:58,700 But no one can explain what the flight crew saw. 121 00:04:58,700 --> 00:05:02,700 Since then, the sightings of strange, luminous objects 122 00:05:02,700 --> 00:05:06,700 flying all around the smoking volcano have dramatically increased. 123 00:05:06,700 --> 00:05:08,700 It's moving! 124 00:05:08,700 --> 00:05:12,700 They're seen by pilots in the air and people on the ground. 125 00:05:12,700 --> 00:05:16,700 A few recent witnesses have even managed to capture 126 00:05:16,700 --> 00:05:20,700 their own video evidence of the phenomenon. 127 00:05:24,700 --> 00:05:30,700 So what is it about this hotspot that seems to attract unexplained activity? 128 00:05:30,700 --> 00:05:34,700 Are these lights coming from somewhere beyond this world? 129 00:05:34,700 --> 00:05:38,700 And what is their connection to the volcano? 130 00:05:42,700 --> 00:05:44,700 So what do you make of this? 131 00:05:44,700 --> 00:05:46,700 Well, there's a popular theory among investigators 132 00:05:46,700 --> 00:05:49,700 that UFOs are coming here looking for elements that they need, 133 00:05:49,700 --> 00:05:53,700 something like uranium, which would be found in a volcano. 134 00:05:53,700 --> 00:05:57,700 Okay, before we start thinking about the motivation for these UFOs, 135 00:05:57,700 --> 00:06:00,700 we need to figure out what people are actually seeing there. 136 00:06:00,700 --> 00:06:03,700 Could be satellites, could be meteorites, 137 00:06:03,700 --> 00:06:05,700 could be some other natural phenomena. 138 00:06:05,700 --> 00:06:07,700 There's a thing called earthquake lights that happens in areas 139 00:06:07,700 --> 00:06:10,700 of high seismic activity like Mexico City. 140 00:06:10,700 --> 00:06:14,700 Yeah, but here's the thing, those videos didn't look like anything natural. 141 00:06:14,700 --> 00:06:17,700 So this is the mission. The videos and the eyewitness reports, 142 00:06:17,700 --> 00:06:19,700 they're undeniable, people are seeing something. 143 00:06:19,700 --> 00:06:21,700 So get down to Mexico City and find out what. 144 00:06:21,700 --> 00:06:23,700 Is there a natural explanation? 145 00:06:23,700 --> 00:06:25,700 Meteorites, satellites, weather phenomenon, 146 00:06:25,700 --> 00:06:27,700 or is it something otherworldly? 147 00:06:27,700 --> 00:06:29,700 Either way, you gotta bring back some proof. 148 00:06:29,700 --> 00:06:31,700 Alright, we're on it. 149 00:06:31,700 --> 00:06:33,700 You guys have never been this close to an active volcano before. 150 00:06:33,700 --> 00:06:35,700 Trust me, you're gonna lava it. 151 00:06:37,700 --> 00:06:38,700 Wow. 152 00:06:38,700 --> 00:06:39,700 You guys can go now. 153 00:06:39,700 --> 00:06:41,700 Gladly. 154 00:06:41,700 --> 00:06:44,700 Phil and Jess travel 2100 miles from New York 155 00:06:44,700 --> 00:06:48,700 to the Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City. 156 00:06:50,700 --> 00:06:53,700 Latin America's busiest airport. 157 00:06:58,700 --> 00:07:00,700 Back in Mexico City, your favorite place. 158 00:07:00,700 --> 00:07:02,700 It's a city of so much culture here. 159 00:07:02,700 --> 00:07:05,700 Okay, Jess, as tech quiz, let me hear it. 160 00:07:05,700 --> 00:07:08,700 How do you pronounce the volcano? 161 00:07:08,700 --> 00:07:09,700 Uh... 162 00:07:09,700 --> 00:07:10,700 Come on. 163 00:07:10,700 --> 00:07:12,700 Um... 164 00:07:12,700 --> 00:07:13,700 Uh... 165 00:07:13,700 --> 00:07:14,700 Popo... 166 00:07:14,700 --> 00:07:16,700 Let me see if I can mimic you. 167 00:07:16,700 --> 00:07:17,700 Popo... 168 00:07:17,700 --> 00:07:18,700 Popo... 169 00:07:18,700 --> 00:07:19,700 Ka... 170 00:07:19,700 --> 00:07:20,700 Ka... 171 00:07:20,700 --> 00:07:21,700 Te... 172 00:07:21,700 --> 00:07:22,700 Te... 173 00:07:22,700 --> 00:07:23,700 Pital... 174 00:07:23,700 --> 00:07:24,700 Popo Catep... 175 00:07:24,700 --> 00:07:27,700 Yeah, Popo Catepital in Nahuatl actually means the smoking mountain. 176 00:07:28,700 --> 00:07:30,700 People here call it El Popo. 177 00:07:30,700 --> 00:07:31,700 I'll go El Popo. 178 00:07:33,700 --> 00:07:35,700 Josh has arranged for us to meet Enrique Colbeck, 179 00:07:35,700 --> 00:07:38,700 one of the longest serving air traffic controllers in the country 180 00:07:38,700 --> 00:07:40,700 and a former pilot. 181 00:07:40,700 --> 00:07:41,700 Enrique. 182 00:07:41,700 --> 00:07:42,700 Hola. 183 00:07:42,700 --> 00:07:43,700 Hola. 184 00:07:43,700 --> 00:07:44,700 Buenos dias. 185 00:07:44,700 --> 00:07:45,700 Buenos dias. 186 00:07:45,700 --> 00:07:47,700 Enrique's career spans 40 plus years, 187 00:07:47,700 --> 00:07:51,700 so he knows what should and shouldn't be flying in these skies. 188 00:07:51,700 --> 00:07:56,700 Not only has he heard numerous stories from pilots about UFOs near the volcano, 189 00:07:56,700 --> 00:07:58,700 he has personally seen them on radar. 190 00:07:58,700 --> 00:08:01,700 When did you start seeing these strange objects? 191 00:08:01,700 --> 00:08:06,700 Well, my life changed precisely about this issue in 1994. 192 00:08:07,700 --> 00:08:10,700 A domestic flight coming up from Guadalajara 193 00:08:10,700 --> 00:08:12,700 that was under my control 194 00:08:12,700 --> 00:08:16,700 called to the control center to advise somebody is flying very close. 195 00:08:16,700 --> 00:08:18,700 The pilot reports an emergency 196 00:08:18,700 --> 00:08:24,700 and we had some kind of collide with an object flying in a static way. 197 00:08:24,700 --> 00:08:26,700 Wait, the plane hit the object? 198 00:08:26,700 --> 00:08:27,700 The object, yeah. 199 00:08:27,700 --> 00:08:28,700 In the sky? 200 00:08:28,700 --> 00:08:31,700 Yeah, and we closed the airport. 201 00:08:31,700 --> 00:08:40,700 Gosh, I've never heard of a plane actually getting hit by an unidentified flying object before. 202 00:08:40,700 --> 00:08:45,700 Enrique says an inspection of the plane revealed damage to the front wheel hydraulics, 203 00:08:45,700 --> 00:08:48,700 but no one could determine exactly what caused it. 204 00:08:48,700 --> 00:08:50,700 So then what's the government's take on this? 205 00:08:50,700 --> 00:08:52,700 I mean, that's really dangerous. 206 00:08:52,700 --> 00:08:59,700 Of course, in our case, we make the reports of our supervisors or Mexican authorities, 207 00:08:59,700 --> 00:09:01,700 but nobody knows nothing about it. 208 00:09:01,700 --> 00:09:06,700 The Mexican Ironatical authorities are not a part of the government also. 209 00:09:06,700 --> 00:09:07,700 Nobody pay attention. 210 00:09:07,700 --> 00:09:10,700 In my country, nobody cares about it. 211 00:09:12,700 --> 00:09:16,700 It seems like there's a hotspot of sightings around this volcano, Popacatepital. 212 00:09:16,700 --> 00:09:18,700 Are you even allowed to fly over the volcano? 213 00:09:18,700 --> 00:09:24,700 Well, we have to leave it to fly around the volcano, 10 miles of diameter from the cone. 214 00:09:24,700 --> 00:09:26,700 And that's because it's an active volcano. 215 00:09:26,700 --> 00:09:28,700 It doesn't follow a schedule. 216 00:09:28,700 --> 00:09:30,700 They could blow at any moment. 217 00:09:30,700 --> 00:09:35,700 Have you noticed any volcanic activity when these sightings occur? 218 00:09:35,700 --> 00:09:36,700 Yes, of course. 219 00:09:36,700 --> 00:09:42,700 We have reports about many objects going up to the volcano area, 220 00:09:42,700 --> 00:09:47,700 especially inside of the cone and leaving the volcano in the first wave. 221 00:09:48,700 --> 00:09:50,700 How often would these sightings occur? 222 00:09:50,700 --> 00:09:58,700 Sometimes we receive reports about three times a day, three times a week, or three times a month. 223 00:09:58,700 --> 00:10:01,700 And perhaps in three months we never have anything. 224 00:10:01,700 --> 00:10:05,700 So if the volcano has this 10-mile radius around it, there should be nothing flying in there. 225 00:10:05,700 --> 00:10:06,700 Yes. 226 00:10:06,700 --> 00:10:09,700 Yet on your radar, you're seeing objects flying around. 227 00:10:09,700 --> 00:10:13,700 Sometimes appears very close and inside of the prohibit area. 228 00:10:13,700 --> 00:10:15,700 What patterns are you seeing them do? 229 00:10:15,700 --> 00:10:16,700 Is it just a blip? 230 00:10:16,700 --> 00:10:17,700 Is it something moving around? 231 00:10:17,700 --> 00:10:24,700 These objects move in a different way that the aircrafts, a normal way, 232 00:10:24,700 --> 00:10:28,700 including the Air Force aircrafts, is more fast, 233 00:10:28,700 --> 00:10:35,700 the capability to turn immediately and disappear and appear in the enduro screen 234 00:10:35,700 --> 00:10:41,700 because the speed is four times the normal speed in a moment. 235 00:10:41,700 --> 00:10:42,700 Wow. 236 00:10:42,700 --> 00:10:44,700 That's why we consider it very dangerous. 237 00:10:46,700 --> 00:10:50,700 According to Enrique, there are frequent sightings of mysterious objects flying 238 00:10:50,700 --> 00:10:54,700 where no aircraft should be, around the crater of El Popo. 239 00:10:54,700 --> 00:10:58,700 We're going to try to capture evidence of that phenomenon for ourselves. 240 00:11:02,700 --> 00:11:04,700 Here's a bumpy road, Jess. 241 00:11:04,700 --> 00:11:05,700 That's it, it is. 242 00:11:05,700 --> 00:11:08,700 El Popo is located about 40 miles from the city, 243 00:11:08,700 --> 00:11:11,700 and if the webcam UFO videos are any indication, 244 00:11:11,700 --> 00:11:14,700 we should be able to get a clear view of the volcano 245 00:11:14,700 --> 00:11:17,700 and the airspace around it from the northwest. 246 00:11:17,700 --> 00:11:20,700 We just have to find the best vantage point through the clouds. 247 00:11:20,700 --> 00:11:23,700 Oh yeah, check that out. 248 00:11:27,700 --> 00:11:29,700 Oh my goodness, Jess. 249 00:11:29,700 --> 00:11:30,700 That looks awesome. 250 00:11:30,700 --> 00:11:32,700 I think we found El Popo. 251 00:11:34,700 --> 00:11:35,700 Look at that. 252 00:11:35,700 --> 00:11:38,700 Oh, you can still see, yeah, it looks like it's smoking on the top. 253 00:11:39,700 --> 00:11:41,700 To make sure no one gets caught in an eruption, 254 00:11:41,700 --> 00:11:44,700 hiking to the crater is prohibited by the government. 255 00:11:46,700 --> 00:11:48,700 But I've gotten even better idea. 256 00:11:56,700 --> 00:12:01,700 Our plan is to get a closer look without causing an international incident. 257 00:12:02,700 --> 00:12:03,700 Hola, capitán. 258 00:12:03,700 --> 00:12:04,700 Estamos listos? 259 00:12:04,700 --> 00:12:05,700 Okay. 260 00:12:07,700 --> 00:12:09,700 Woo, okay, let's do this. 261 00:12:12,700 --> 00:12:14,700 Next stop, El Popo. 262 00:12:21,700 --> 00:12:23,700 Woo, okay, let's do this. 263 00:12:24,700 --> 00:12:28,700 So the plan here is that Jess will be on the ground 264 00:12:28,700 --> 00:12:33,700 with a giant lens basically focused at the top of this volcano 265 00:12:33,700 --> 00:12:37,700 just to see if we can document any activity from the ground. 266 00:12:37,700 --> 00:12:39,700 We're going to be in the air. 267 00:12:39,700 --> 00:12:42,700 This is where we've got a great bird's eye view, 268 00:12:42,700 --> 00:12:47,700 and I'm really hoping that El Popo doesn't decide to pop off today. 269 00:12:47,700 --> 00:12:49,700 I mean, maybe just a little. 270 00:12:50,700 --> 00:12:55,700 Our permitted flight plan to get us to El Popo starts over the city. 271 00:12:56,700 --> 00:13:00,700 Right below us right now, that is Mexico City. 272 00:13:00,700 --> 00:13:05,700 Actually, what technically makes El Popo one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, 273 00:13:05,700 --> 00:13:09,700 because if it blows, everybody out here could be at risk. 274 00:13:09,700 --> 00:13:13,700 Mexico City is basically built in a field of volcanoes. 275 00:13:13,700 --> 00:13:15,700 All of these hills that we're seeing around here, 276 00:13:15,700 --> 00:13:17,700 those are all dormant volcanoes, 277 00:13:17,700 --> 00:13:21,700 but where we're heading, that's an active volcano. 278 00:13:21,700 --> 00:13:24,700 This whole area is seismic activity central, 279 00:13:24,700 --> 00:13:28,700 thanks to Mexico's location within the world's so-called Ring of Fire, 280 00:13:28,700 --> 00:13:34,700 a 25,000-mile stretch that contains 75% of the world's volcanoes 281 00:13:34,700 --> 00:13:36,700 and 90% of all earthquakes. 282 00:13:36,700 --> 00:13:39,700 During earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, 283 00:13:39,700 --> 00:13:44,700 rock friction near the Earth's crust releases energy into the atmosphere, 284 00:13:44,700 --> 00:13:49,700 that some scientists believe can result in startling flashes of light seen for miles. 285 00:13:50,700 --> 00:13:52,700 They're known as earthquake lights, 286 00:13:52,700 --> 00:13:56,700 and I'm wondering if that light is what people are mistaking for UFOs. 287 00:13:59,700 --> 00:14:01,700 All right, Jess, we're scanning in the skies. 288 00:14:01,700 --> 00:14:03,700 All right, that's good. 289 00:14:03,700 --> 00:14:05,700 So we got the seismometer set up. 290 00:14:05,700 --> 00:14:09,700 It's actually really sensitive, so if we do get a little minute earthquake around here, 291 00:14:09,700 --> 00:14:11,700 it'll give us an indication of that, 292 00:14:11,700 --> 00:14:14,700 and then we also have the camera pointed right at the top of the volcano 293 00:14:14,700 --> 00:14:18,700 where people say they see a lot of these unidentified balls of light 294 00:14:18,700 --> 00:14:21,700 and unidentified objects coming in and out of. 295 00:14:21,700 --> 00:14:26,700 My camera is equipped with a telephoto lens with 40 times magnifying power 296 00:14:26,700 --> 00:14:31,700 and a polarizing filter to reduce glare and reflections when filming the daytime sky. 297 00:14:31,700 --> 00:14:35,700 I'll also be monitoring reports of seismic activity in the area. 298 00:14:35,700 --> 00:14:37,700 Feel you copy? 299 00:14:37,700 --> 00:14:40,700 We'll see if there might be a correlation between volcanic rumbling, 300 00:14:40,700 --> 00:14:43,700 earthquake activity, and UFOs. 301 00:14:43,700 --> 00:14:46,700 I've got the camera set up and I've got my seismometer and everything. 302 00:14:46,700 --> 00:14:51,700 Also, just as a heads up, my earthquake up here says that we just had a 4.0, 303 00:14:51,700 --> 00:14:54,700 about 36 kilometers away this morning. 304 00:14:55,700 --> 00:14:57,700 Wow, okay, that's fantastic. 305 00:14:57,700 --> 00:15:01,700 Just let us know if there's any seismic activity on the ground while we're up here 306 00:15:01,700 --> 00:15:04,700 because I want to look in the air and see if anything matches. 307 00:15:05,700 --> 00:15:08,700 It's already a seismically active day. 308 00:15:08,700 --> 00:15:14,700 A series of smaller earthquakes known as an earthquake swarm can last days or even weeks. 309 00:15:14,700 --> 00:15:20,700 Swarms are especially prevalent in close proximity to, you guessed it, volcanoes. 310 00:15:20,700 --> 00:15:25,700 I hope we can catch the next rumble and any strange lights it might generate. 311 00:15:26,700 --> 00:15:30,700 We've asked the pilot to maneuver the chopper for the best vantage point of the volcano 312 00:15:30,700 --> 00:15:33,700 so we can get as close as possible. 313 00:15:33,700 --> 00:15:38,700 But we also don't want to set off any alarm bells by entering government restricted airspace. 314 00:15:38,700 --> 00:15:40,700 Captain, what's our elevation right now? 315 00:15:40,700 --> 00:15:42,700 9,500 feet. 316 00:15:42,700 --> 00:15:44,700 9,500 feet. 317 00:15:46,700 --> 00:15:47,700 Look at that. 318 00:15:47,700 --> 00:15:50,700 That's Popocatepitol, right in those clouds. 319 00:15:50,700 --> 00:15:52,700 Wow. 320 00:15:52,700 --> 00:15:56,700 The upper slopes of El Popo are covered nearly year round with snow and ice, 321 00:15:56,700 --> 00:15:59,700 both of which make great reflectors. 322 00:16:00,700 --> 00:16:05,700 Any sunlight that bounces off and hits some ash and rock in the air at the right angle? 323 00:16:05,700 --> 00:16:09,700 Well, that combination could add up to a reported UFO sighting. 324 00:16:09,700 --> 00:16:12,700 Look at that volcano. 325 00:16:12,700 --> 00:16:15,700 Oh my gosh, look at that smoke coming out of there. 326 00:16:15,700 --> 00:16:18,700 Bill, I can see you approaching the volcano. 327 00:16:19,700 --> 00:16:21,700 Oh, I see you, I see you. 328 00:16:22,700 --> 00:16:25,700 Did you see that puff of smoke that came out of the volcano? 329 00:16:25,700 --> 00:16:27,700 Yes, I did. 330 00:16:27,700 --> 00:16:29,700 This thing is active. 331 00:16:29,700 --> 00:16:31,700 Look how big that plume is. 332 00:16:31,700 --> 00:16:32,700 That is an active volcano. 333 00:16:32,700 --> 00:16:35,700 Right now, that thing is smoking, there's lava inside of it. 334 00:16:35,700 --> 00:16:39,700 If they are UFOs, maybe they're coming here because they need resources, 335 00:16:39,700 --> 00:16:42,700 an area that has a high concentration of heavy metals. 336 00:16:42,700 --> 00:16:48,700 Everybody thinks they're here to like always just keep an eye on like the military or this or the other thing, 337 00:16:48,700 --> 00:16:51,700 but maybe they're actually using us for mining. 338 00:16:51,700 --> 00:16:52,700 Who knows? 339 00:16:52,700 --> 00:16:54,700 Who knows what kind of resources they would need 340 00:16:54,700 --> 00:16:58,700 and who knows what's potentially in there that's usable for them. 341 00:17:00,700 --> 00:17:03,700 Since the development of nuclear weaponry in the 1940s, 342 00:17:03,700 --> 00:17:08,700 military personnel have reported sightings of UFOs near nuclear storage facilities 343 00:17:08,700 --> 00:17:10,700 and weapons training bases. 344 00:17:11,700 --> 00:17:16,700 According to employees at America's first nuclear testing site in White Sands, New Mexico, 345 00:17:16,700 --> 00:17:21,700 UFO sightings were so prevalent that a secret team was assigned to monitor the activity. 346 00:17:22,700 --> 00:17:24,700 Nuclear weapons use uranium, 347 00:17:24,700 --> 00:17:28,700 so I'm still wondering if elevated uranium levels around El Popo 348 00:17:28,700 --> 00:17:32,700 could explain why UFOs are attracted to this volcano in particular. 349 00:17:32,700 --> 00:17:35,700 If you're wondering why they call this thing an active volcano, 350 00:17:35,700 --> 00:17:39,700 look no further than all that smoke billowing out of this thing. 351 00:17:40,700 --> 00:17:42,700 In addition to the crater and the plume, 352 00:17:42,700 --> 00:17:47,700 I'm also keeping an eye out for major cracks in the earth going up the volcano, 353 00:17:47,700 --> 00:17:50,700 anything that could give rise to possible earthquake lights. 354 00:17:52,700 --> 00:17:55,700 Holy s***, Daddy, look, look, look. 355 00:17:55,700 --> 00:17:58,700 Is that them or is that something else? Do you see that? 356 00:17:59,700 --> 00:18:01,700 Bill, I see something. 357 00:18:01,700 --> 00:18:02,700 What are you seeing? 358 00:18:03,700 --> 00:18:05,700 Oh my god, what is that? 359 00:18:11,700 --> 00:18:12,700 Scratch that. 360 00:18:12,700 --> 00:18:13,700 That's a plane. 361 00:18:13,700 --> 00:18:14,700 False alarm. 362 00:18:16,700 --> 00:18:18,700 Okay, well, that's still great intel 363 00:18:18,700 --> 00:18:22,700 so we can review some of the other videos of what people claim are UFOs 364 00:18:22,700 --> 00:18:25,700 and maybe mark some of them off as aircraft. 365 00:18:25,700 --> 00:18:27,700 So, I mean, that's exactly what Enrique was talking about, 366 00:18:27,700 --> 00:18:29,700 how these flights, these commercial flights, 367 00:18:29,700 --> 00:18:32,700 have to actually fly around the volcano and not over the top of it 368 00:18:32,700 --> 00:18:33,700 because it's still active. 369 00:18:33,700 --> 00:18:39,700 So that's probably a designated flight path for the Mexico City Airport. 370 00:18:43,700 --> 00:18:45,700 The more time we spend around this volcano, 371 00:18:45,700 --> 00:18:48,700 the more I think two things are happening here. 372 00:18:48,700 --> 00:18:53,700 Jester said herself that she's seeing airplanes in the path of the volcano 373 00:18:53,700 --> 00:18:56,700 so it could be kind of an obstacle to someone standing over there. 374 00:18:58,700 --> 00:19:01,700 The other thing is this is incredibly seismically active place, 375 00:19:01,700 --> 00:19:06,700 full of clouds, full of potential for those earthquake lights. 376 00:19:06,700 --> 00:19:10,700 So it could be what people are actually seeing and calling UFOs. 377 00:19:11,700 --> 00:19:16,700 To test whether something like earthquake lights could be obscured in those clouds, 378 00:19:16,700 --> 00:19:22,700 I'm using a FLIR, which detects heat variations and displays them as different colors. 379 00:19:23,700 --> 00:19:30,700 This here is a thermal camera and one of the interesting things about these earthquake lights 380 00:19:30,700 --> 00:19:35,700 is that they are plasma and plasma is thousands of degrees hot. 381 00:19:35,700 --> 00:19:39,700 So my hope is that even if we can't see it because it's bright, 382 00:19:39,700 --> 00:19:44,700 if I use this we may be able to detect it because this thing is filming heat signatures. 383 00:19:44,700 --> 00:19:50,700 So right now we're above cloud level so any anomalies that we get, obviously, that'll be exciting. 384 00:19:56,700 --> 00:19:57,700 You guys seeing anything? 385 00:19:57,700 --> 00:19:58,700 No, I'm not yet. 386 00:19:58,700 --> 00:19:59,700 Alright. 387 00:20:06,700 --> 00:20:07,700 Wait, what is that flying? 388 00:20:07,700 --> 00:20:08,700 See that? 389 00:20:08,700 --> 00:20:09,700 Oh! 390 00:20:24,700 --> 00:20:25,700 Wait, what is that flying? 391 00:20:25,700 --> 00:20:26,700 See that? 392 00:20:28,700 --> 00:20:29,700 Wow. 393 00:20:29,700 --> 00:20:30,700 Okay. 394 00:20:32,700 --> 00:20:35,700 There's something that looked like kind of a bright reflection. 395 00:20:35,700 --> 00:20:37,700 Hot spot of light. 396 00:20:37,700 --> 00:20:39,700 I'm trying to figure out what that was. 397 00:20:41,700 --> 00:20:42,700 That was crazy. 398 00:20:43,700 --> 00:20:45,700 Just like a bright flash. 399 00:20:45,700 --> 00:20:49,700 Like a ball of light if you right through the frame on the FLIR. 400 00:20:49,700 --> 00:20:51,700 Are you serious? 401 00:20:51,700 --> 00:20:56,700 Yeah, could have been some trick at the clouds but really it just looked like there was something out there. 402 00:20:56,700 --> 00:20:58,700 Really, really bright spot. 403 00:20:58,700 --> 00:21:04,700 It's unclear what I saw on the FLIR but it was definitely faster than any bird or plane. 404 00:21:04,700 --> 00:21:09,700 I doubt it was a spacecraft but seeing as how I've yet to identify it, 405 00:21:09,700 --> 00:21:13,700 I suppose it fits the technical definition of a UFO. 406 00:21:13,700 --> 00:21:20,700 And I have to admit, it looked pretty similar to the many bizarre webcam videos captured over El Popo recently. 407 00:21:21,700 --> 00:21:22,700 So bizarre. 408 00:21:26,700 --> 00:21:31,700 I don't know, I've never seen up here just but I'll tell you what, there are strange things in the sky around El Popo. 409 00:21:35,700 --> 00:21:40,700 The captain says we're running low on fuel so we start heading back. 410 00:21:41,700 --> 00:21:48,700 After getting closer than I probably should have to a highly active volcano, I still can't figure out what I saw. 411 00:21:51,700 --> 00:21:53,700 Out of the corner of my eye, I see this flash. 412 00:21:53,700 --> 00:21:58,700 We were above the cloud layer, it was near the volcano and there was just this bright, 413 00:21:58,700 --> 00:22:02,700 it looked like just a giant sparkle just happened right in the middle of the clouds. 414 00:22:02,700 --> 00:22:03,700 Like lightning or what? 415 00:22:03,700 --> 00:22:08,700 No, almost like it was reflecting off something but there was nothing else in there. 416 00:22:08,700 --> 00:22:09,700 Oh, whoa, that's cool. 417 00:22:09,700 --> 00:22:15,700 So yeah, I mean I saw light, I saw something weird around the volcano which is kind of what we're here for 418 00:22:15,700 --> 00:22:18,700 so I really want to try to figure out what that was. 419 00:22:18,700 --> 00:22:25,700 And I almost wouldn't believe me if I heard the story but I saw something flash in the clouds around El Popo. 420 00:22:25,700 --> 00:22:28,700 I mean that tracks with all the eyewitness accounts. 421 00:22:28,700 --> 00:22:29,700 I guess it does. 422 00:22:29,700 --> 00:22:33,700 Well that makes me a little bit more hopeful that we're actually going to figure out what this is. 423 00:22:33,700 --> 00:22:36,700 In fact, you got eyes on something strange? 424 00:22:36,700 --> 00:22:37,700 I know. 425 00:22:38,700 --> 00:22:45,700 Jess did detect an earlier earthquake nearby but what I saw from the air didn't look to me quite like earthquake lights. 426 00:22:45,700 --> 00:22:51,700 I'm a biologist, not an atmospheric expert, so I've arranged to meet with an atmospheric scientist 427 00:22:51,700 --> 00:22:55,700 who I'm hoping can give us some perspective on what I might have seen. 428 00:22:56,700 --> 00:22:58,700 Oh, hey, Jess was calling. 429 00:22:58,700 --> 00:23:00,700 You want to start looking for a place to pull over? 430 00:23:00,700 --> 00:23:01,700 Yeah. 431 00:23:01,700 --> 00:23:02,700 Hey. 432 00:23:02,700 --> 00:23:03,700 Hi! 433 00:23:03,700 --> 00:23:04,700 Hey, Josh! 434 00:23:04,700 --> 00:23:05,700 How's it going? 435 00:23:05,700 --> 00:23:06,700 Good! 436 00:23:06,700 --> 00:23:07,700 It's going pretty good. 437 00:23:07,700 --> 00:23:10,700 Alright, seen any UFOs around that volcano? 438 00:23:10,700 --> 00:23:16,700 Well, I took a helicopter pretty close to it and I did see a bizarre light flying near the crater. 439 00:23:16,700 --> 00:23:19,700 A bizarre light? Sounds promising. Any idea what it was? 440 00:23:19,700 --> 00:23:20,700 I've got a few theories. 441 00:23:20,700 --> 00:23:24,700 So, I've arranged to meet with an atmospheric scientist on the volcano. 442 00:23:24,700 --> 00:23:25,700 Okay, great. 443 00:23:25,700 --> 00:23:32,700 Phil, you stay on that angle, but the reason I called is, Jess, I got a hot tip on a guy that you have to go meet, like now. 444 00:23:32,700 --> 00:23:33,700 Like right now? 445 00:23:33,700 --> 00:23:34,700 Yes, right now. 446 00:23:34,700 --> 00:23:35,700 Who is it? 447 00:23:35,700 --> 00:23:44,700 He's a mountain guide who practically lives on El Popo and apparently he had a close encounter with these mysterious lights. 448 00:23:44,700 --> 00:23:51,700 Now, this is something he has never told anybody about, but he has agreed to talk with us if you can meet him on the mountain today. 449 00:23:51,700 --> 00:23:54,700 So, you've got to get out there and get to him before he changes his mind. 450 00:23:54,700 --> 00:23:58,700 I'm on it. Just send me that guy's information and I'll track him down. 451 00:23:58,700 --> 00:24:01,700 Alright, I'm looking forward to hearing what you find. Good luck. 452 00:24:01,700 --> 00:24:02,700 Thanks, Josh. 453 00:24:02,700 --> 00:24:03,700 Awesome. Bye, Josh. 454 00:24:06,700 --> 00:24:10,700 With this new info, we'll need to divide and conquer. 455 00:24:10,700 --> 00:24:16,700 I'll meet with the atmospheric scientist while Jess locates the witness at the coordinates Josh just sent over. 456 00:24:16,700 --> 00:24:17,700 That's my trail. 457 00:24:17,700 --> 00:24:18,700 Okay. 458 00:24:18,700 --> 00:24:19,700 Meet up later. 459 00:24:19,700 --> 00:24:20,700 Meet up later. 460 00:24:20,700 --> 00:24:24,700 I'll take her off at a hiking trail near the base of El Popo to meet Josh's new witness. 461 00:24:24,700 --> 00:24:25,700 Good luck. 462 00:24:25,700 --> 00:24:26,700 Thank you. You too. 463 00:24:27,700 --> 00:24:32,700 And then I continue on to meet with my atmospheric scientist contact a few miles away. 464 00:24:38,700 --> 00:24:39,700 Manuel? 465 00:24:39,700 --> 00:24:40,700 Hola. 466 00:24:40,700 --> 00:24:41,700 Hi. 467 00:24:41,700 --> 00:24:43,700 Hi, Jessica. Nice to meet you. 468 00:24:44,700 --> 00:24:49,700 Manuel lives nearby and leads volcano enthusiast sun tracks around El Popo. 469 00:24:49,700 --> 00:24:52,700 Josh said he has a story I have to hear. 470 00:24:52,700 --> 00:25:00,700 I live from a community 15 kilometers from here and every day I walk to the mountain, 471 00:25:00,700 --> 00:25:02,700 scouting or hiking. 472 00:25:02,700 --> 00:25:07,700 Well, I was walking, hiking to the volcano's Popocatepe. 473 00:25:07,700 --> 00:25:15,700 The sky was so clear and then appeared to the left of the volcano three triangles. 474 00:25:15,700 --> 00:25:16,700 Three triangles? 475 00:25:16,700 --> 00:25:17,700 Three. 476 00:25:19,700 --> 00:25:25,700 And then I saw the color was so yellow, so brilliant. 477 00:25:25,700 --> 00:25:26,700 Okay. 478 00:25:26,700 --> 00:25:27,700 Like a gold. 479 00:25:27,700 --> 00:25:28,700 Were they glowing? 480 00:25:28,700 --> 00:25:29,700 Yes. 481 00:25:29,700 --> 00:25:30,700 And how big were they? 482 00:25:30,700 --> 00:25:31,700 Could you tell from where you were standing? 483 00:25:31,700 --> 00:25:35,700 More or less like a truck, a big truck. 484 00:25:35,700 --> 00:25:38,700 Oh, so all three of them were about the size of a big truck? 485 00:25:38,700 --> 00:25:39,700 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 486 00:25:39,700 --> 00:25:41,700 Because for the distance I saw perfectly well. 487 00:25:41,700 --> 00:25:42,700 Interesting. 488 00:25:42,700 --> 00:25:49,700 While I was watching, I remember a stay during 40 minutes there. 489 00:25:49,700 --> 00:25:50,700 We're the stay, no move. 490 00:25:50,700 --> 00:25:51,700 Not at all. 491 00:25:51,700 --> 00:25:52,700 Just stay there. 492 00:25:52,700 --> 00:25:53,700 Just hovering. 493 00:25:53,700 --> 00:25:54,700 Yes, yes. 494 00:25:54,700 --> 00:25:57,700 And then two of them vanish. 495 00:25:57,700 --> 00:25:58,700 Did they leave like a light trail? 496 00:25:58,700 --> 00:26:01,700 Did you see them move away or did they just disappear? 497 00:26:01,700 --> 00:26:02,700 Just disappear. 498 00:26:04,700 --> 00:26:05,700 Vanished there. 499 00:26:05,700 --> 00:26:10,700 But one of the three moved to the base of the volcano. 500 00:26:10,700 --> 00:26:13,700 And then I heard just like a crash. 501 00:26:13,700 --> 00:26:14,700 It crashed? 502 00:26:22,700 --> 00:26:25,700 And then I heard just like a crash. 503 00:26:25,700 --> 00:26:27,700 It crashed? 504 00:26:27,700 --> 00:26:29,700 Were you able to see any smoke or anything? 505 00:26:29,700 --> 00:26:31,700 Just smoke. 506 00:26:31,700 --> 00:26:34,700 You saw a little smoke, but you didn't actually see it crash. 507 00:26:34,700 --> 00:26:37,700 Like crash or you did see it crash into the site? 508 00:26:37,700 --> 00:26:38,700 Like a crash. 509 00:26:38,700 --> 00:26:39,700 I heard just like a crash. 510 00:26:39,700 --> 00:26:42,700 Do you have like a map or anything that you can show me as to where it was located? 511 00:26:42,700 --> 00:26:44,700 Yes, yes, of course. 512 00:26:44,700 --> 00:26:45,700 I'll show you. 513 00:26:45,700 --> 00:26:47,700 This area is the volcano. 514 00:26:47,700 --> 00:26:52,700 And then the triangle moved from here to the base. 515 00:26:52,700 --> 00:26:55,700 And then in this area was the crash. 516 00:26:55,700 --> 00:26:59,700 Manuel points out the best route for trekking to the crash site. 517 00:26:59,700 --> 00:27:02,700 So my plan is to reconnect with Phil and head out there. 518 00:27:02,700 --> 00:27:05,700 Do you mind sending me that map really fast? 519 00:27:05,700 --> 00:27:06,700 Yeah, yeah, of course. 520 00:27:11,700 --> 00:27:13,700 Well, Jess questions the new witness. 521 00:27:13,700 --> 00:27:14,700 How you doing on Phil? 522 00:27:14,700 --> 00:27:16,700 I'm meeting Joel Bernudes. 523 00:27:16,700 --> 00:27:21,700 With a PhD in physics and a research background in astronomy and atmospheric sciences, 524 00:27:21,700 --> 00:27:25,700 he might be able to help me make sense of what I saw from the helicopter. 525 00:27:25,700 --> 00:27:26,700 Look at that bubble. 526 00:27:28,700 --> 00:27:29,700 It's a very nice plum. 527 00:27:29,700 --> 00:27:30,700 Yeah. 528 00:27:30,700 --> 00:27:32,700 It was ejected a few minutes ago. 529 00:27:32,700 --> 00:27:33,700 Wow. 530 00:27:33,700 --> 00:27:34,700 Okay. 531 00:27:34,700 --> 00:27:37,700 We're here investigating what people see around El Popo. 532 00:27:37,700 --> 00:27:38,700 People say they see lights. 533 00:27:38,700 --> 00:27:42,700 They say they see things go into El Popo, come out of El Popo. 534 00:27:42,700 --> 00:27:44,700 Definitely there are things coming out of the bubble. 535 00:27:44,700 --> 00:27:45,700 Oh, yes. 536 00:27:45,700 --> 00:27:46,700 Oh, yes. 537 00:27:46,700 --> 00:27:49,700 And so I'm just really curious, what's your take on it? 538 00:27:49,700 --> 00:27:52,700 What do you think people might be seeing around here? 539 00:27:52,700 --> 00:27:57,700 That's not UFO, not an alien, but it's something that is, I guess, based on science 540 00:27:57,700 --> 00:27:59,700 and what we understand about volcanoes. 541 00:27:59,700 --> 00:28:02,700 There are several phenomena that occur around volcanoes 542 00:28:02,700 --> 00:28:04,700 that can be relatively easy explained. 543 00:28:04,700 --> 00:28:07,700 There are some others that we still do not understand quite well. 544 00:28:07,700 --> 00:28:12,700 That's because it's difficult indeed to investigate all the physical phenomena that are occurring 545 00:28:12,700 --> 00:28:15,700 on the top of the volcanoes like this one. 546 00:28:16,700 --> 00:28:18,700 So you're saying there's a lot that we don't know about? 547 00:28:18,700 --> 00:28:19,700 Exactly. 548 00:28:19,700 --> 00:28:20,700 Because they are so dangerous. 549 00:28:20,700 --> 00:28:21,700 Yeah, for sure, for sure. 550 00:28:21,700 --> 00:28:22,700 What can you tell us about? 551 00:28:22,700 --> 00:28:28,700 What kind of interactions will that smoke and that ash and that vapor have in the atmosphere? 552 00:28:28,700 --> 00:28:33,700 When you have a volcano like this one, it is not rare that it expels some ashes. 553 00:28:33,700 --> 00:28:39,700 And depending on how the ashes are expelled, you can form lightnings around the top of the volcano. 554 00:28:39,700 --> 00:28:44,700 When the ashes rub against each other, they basically gain or lose some electrons. 555 00:28:44,700 --> 00:28:45,700 So it's like static electricity. 556 00:28:45,700 --> 00:28:46,700 It's static electricity. 557 00:28:46,700 --> 00:28:50,700 So on one side you have positive charge, on the other side you have negative charge. 558 00:28:50,700 --> 00:28:51,700 Making like a giant battery in the sky. 559 00:28:51,700 --> 00:28:52,700 Exactly. 560 00:28:52,700 --> 00:28:57,700 So you have a difference in energy, a voltage over there, and at some point the difference 561 00:28:57,700 --> 00:29:02,700 is so large that electricity is happening and then you create a lighting over there. 562 00:29:02,700 --> 00:29:05,700 This is how lightnings are created on top of the volcanoes. 563 00:29:05,700 --> 00:29:08,700 And from time to time you can see those lights. 564 00:29:08,700 --> 00:29:14,700 When we flew over El Popo, we were above the cloud layer. 565 00:29:14,700 --> 00:29:17,700 We were in a helicopter and we'd seen a lot of smoke come out. 566 00:29:17,700 --> 00:29:22,700 And then within the cloud layer around there, I saw a bright flash. 567 00:29:25,700 --> 00:29:29,700 Joelle explains that volcanic eruptions are sometimes accompanied by lightning. 568 00:29:29,700 --> 00:29:35,700 And any ash that spews out from the erupting volcano can become electrically charged. 569 00:29:35,700 --> 00:29:39,700 That charge does dissipate quickly as the ash moves away from the volcano. 570 00:29:39,700 --> 00:29:42,700 But it could conceivably show up on a thermal cam. 571 00:29:42,700 --> 00:29:47,700 Okay, so you think there's a chance that what I saw could have been this ash lightning? 572 00:29:47,700 --> 00:29:48,700 Yeah, sure. 573 00:29:48,700 --> 00:29:52,700 Okay, and you could see kind of how a legend could form from something like that. 574 00:29:52,700 --> 00:29:53,700 What is your take? 575 00:29:53,700 --> 00:29:55,700 Are there UFOs out there? 576 00:29:55,700 --> 00:30:00,700 I think most of the things that we see on the sky can be explained by physical phenomena 577 00:30:00,700 --> 00:30:01,700 or weather phenomena, right? 578 00:30:01,700 --> 00:30:03,700 All right, well thank you Joelle. 579 00:30:03,700 --> 00:30:08,700 Well, now we can add another possible natural explanation behind some of the UFO sightings 580 00:30:08,700 --> 00:30:10,700 around El Popo, a electrified ash. 581 00:30:11,700 --> 00:30:17,700 Before I meet back up with Phil, I want to collect some samples of what looked like lava rocks. 582 00:30:17,700 --> 00:30:20,700 Now I'm finding some volcanic rocks. 583 00:30:20,700 --> 00:30:25,700 While you would expect to find traces of uranium and other metals in most volcanic rocks, 584 00:30:25,700 --> 00:30:30,700 I'm curious if the ones around here might show particularly high concentrations. 585 00:30:30,700 --> 00:30:36,700 I'll have these samples analyzed, hoping the results will help us figure out what the UFOs might be after. 586 00:30:41,700 --> 00:30:45,700 Though the flying lights have been seen during the day, 587 00:30:45,700 --> 00:30:50,700 we'll get our best chance of spotting any electrified ash or earthquake lights after dark. 588 00:30:50,700 --> 00:30:51,700 All right, use the spot. 589 00:30:51,700 --> 00:30:52,700 Okay. 590 00:30:52,700 --> 00:30:53,700 All right, set it up. 591 00:30:53,700 --> 00:30:54,700 Let's do it. 592 00:30:54,700 --> 00:31:00,700 Tonight, we're going to set our sights on both the sky and the ground. 593 00:31:00,700 --> 00:31:04,700 While Phil's here looking for natural causes behind the UFO reports, 594 00:31:04,700 --> 00:31:08,700 I'll be searching for any evidence of the crashed UFO Manuel reported. 595 00:31:09,700 --> 00:31:13,700 We established a position on the southwestern edge of the volcano, 596 00:31:13,700 --> 00:31:17,700 the same side where Manuel believes he heard a UFO crash. 597 00:31:17,700 --> 00:31:24,700 My plan is to first angle our surveillance gear over that area to capture any UFOs attracted to the same location. 598 00:31:24,700 --> 00:31:29,700 And then hike farther up the mountain to look for evidence of the alleged crash. 599 00:31:31,700 --> 00:31:33,700 Okay, Dapkhand's all set. 600 00:31:33,700 --> 00:31:36,700 I'm going to point this towards the top of the volcano. 601 00:31:37,700 --> 00:31:40,700 Dapk stands for Data Acquisition Project. 602 00:31:40,700 --> 00:31:44,700 This high-tech camera scans the sky looking for moving objects. 603 00:31:44,700 --> 00:31:51,700 Once the device locks onto a target, it uses specialized software that analyzes the object's appearance and trajectory 604 00:31:51,700 --> 00:31:56,700 to determine if it's a bird, a plane, or maybe something unknown. 605 00:31:56,700 --> 00:31:58,700 Hopefully some of these clouds go away. 606 00:31:58,700 --> 00:31:59,700 Yeah. 607 00:31:59,700 --> 00:32:01,700 Looks like it's clearing up a little bit. 608 00:32:01,700 --> 00:32:02,700 Yeah, a little bit. 609 00:32:02,700 --> 00:32:05,700 I just got super excited because I thought I saw something in the sky, 610 00:32:05,700 --> 00:32:06,700 but it was the moon. 611 00:32:09,700 --> 00:32:10,700 Yes! 612 00:32:10,700 --> 00:32:12,700 This is the first time we've seen the moon tonight. 613 00:32:12,700 --> 00:32:15,700 But it looks like a glowing, red sky. 614 00:32:15,700 --> 00:32:16,700 It totally does. 615 00:32:16,700 --> 00:32:20,700 In addition to the Dapkhand, I'm also setting up an infrared camera. 616 00:32:20,700 --> 00:32:22,700 We need all the eyes we can get on this volcano, 617 00:32:22,700 --> 00:32:27,700 and the IR setting might be able to better capture the electrified ash phenomenon. 618 00:32:27,700 --> 00:32:28,700 All set? 619 00:32:28,700 --> 00:32:29,700 We're all good. 620 00:32:29,700 --> 00:32:30,700 Let's do this. 621 00:32:30,700 --> 00:32:31,700 All right, grab the stuff. 622 00:32:31,700 --> 00:32:37,700 With our cameras in place, we set off on our hike to the area where Manuel claims he heard a UFO crash. 623 00:32:37,700 --> 00:32:40,700 If some kind of craft didn't collide with the volcano, 624 00:32:40,700 --> 00:32:43,700 odds are it would have left behind a debris. 625 00:32:43,700 --> 00:32:48,700 So I'm packing my highly sensitive metal detector to help me root out any metal in the dark. 626 00:32:48,700 --> 00:32:50,700 Oh, this is our bright flash. 627 00:32:50,700 --> 00:32:51,700 Did you really? 628 00:32:51,700 --> 00:32:52,700 Yeah. 629 00:32:52,700 --> 00:32:53,700 I did see that. 630 00:32:53,700 --> 00:32:54,700 Did you see that? 631 00:32:54,700 --> 00:32:55,700 Oh my gosh. 632 00:32:55,700 --> 00:32:57,700 Maybe the Dapkhand camera picked it up then. 633 00:33:02,700 --> 00:33:03,700 Oh boy. 634 00:33:03,700 --> 00:33:05,700 All right, that's a problem. 635 00:33:07,700 --> 00:33:08,700 Is there a way to cross it? 636 00:33:08,700 --> 00:33:09,700 Let's do a question. 637 00:33:12,700 --> 00:33:13,700 Right here, right here. 638 00:33:13,700 --> 00:33:14,700 Oh, you got, let me see. 639 00:33:14,700 --> 00:33:15,700 Got a spot. 640 00:33:16,700 --> 00:33:17,700 Oh, okay. 641 00:33:17,700 --> 00:33:18,700 Oh, f***. 642 00:33:18,700 --> 00:33:19,700 All right. 643 00:33:19,700 --> 00:33:20,700 How's this going to work? 644 00:33:20,700 --> 00:33:21,700 Jess, here's what I'm thinking. 645 00:33:23,700 --> 00:33:24,700 Shoot me across? 646 00:33:25,700 --> 00:33:27,700 Why don't I take the line now? 647 00:33:27,700 --> 00:33:28,700 I could tie it and toss it. 648 00:33:28,700 --> 00:33:30,700 Okay, that'll work. 649 00:33:31,700 --> 00:33:32,700 Careful. 650 00:33:39,700 --> 00:33:40,700 Careful. 651 00:33:40,700 --> 00:33:41,700 It's slippery. 652 00:33:41,700 --> 00:33:43,700 Don't f***ing stand up. 653 00:33:43,700 --> 00:33:44,700 Don't stand up. 654 00:33:45,700 --> 00:33:46,700 All right. 655 00:33:47,700 --> 00:33:49,700 Hey Jess, slide my backpack across. 656 00:33:49,700 --> 00:33:50,700 All right, here it comes. 657 00:33:52,700 --> 00:33:53,700 All right. 658 00:33:53,700 --> 00:33:54,700 Got it? 659 00:33:54,700 --> 00:33:55,700 Got it. 660 00:33:55,700 --> 00:34:00,700 The trick now will be getting the crew and all the expensive gear across without falling 661 00:34:00,700 --> 00:34:01,700 into the drink. 662 00:34:03,700 --> 00:34:04,700 Yeah. 663 00:34:04,700 --> 00:34:05,700 All right, you want me to grab the camera? 664 00:34:05,700 --> 00:34:06,700 Got it. 665 00:34:06,700 --> 00:34:07,700 Yeah. 666 00:34:07,700 --> 00:34:08,700 Okay, camera's clear. 667 00:34:10,700 --> 00:34:11,700 Got it. 668 00:34:12,700 --> 00:34:13,700 All right, you good? 669 00:34:13,700 --> 00:34:14,700 You good? 670 00:34:20,700 --> 00:34:21,700 Oh. 671 00:34:24,700 --> 00:34:25,700 Oh, f***. 672 00:34:28,700 --> 00:34:29,700 Oh, f*** me. 673 00:34:29,700 --> 00:34:30,700 Jess! 674 00:34:30,700 --> 00:34:31,700 F***! 675 00:34:35,700 --> 00:34:41,700 If you believe extraterrestrial enthusiasts, Mexico isn't the only place where UFOs like it hot. 676 00:34:41,700 --> 00:34:48,700 Japan's iconic Mount Fuji is an active volcano that, according to some, is also home to 677 00:34:48,700 --> 00:34:51,700 an alien base miles below the surface. 678 00:34:51,700 --> 00:34:58,700 For years, images have been circulating that appear to show massive, mist-covered, disc-shaped 679 00:34:58,700 --> 00:35:01,700 shafts next to the picturesque peak. 680 00:35:01,700 --> 00:35:04,700 But not so fast, says the scientific community. 681 00:35:04,700 --> 00:35:11,700 They confirm the images actually show a weather event known as a lenticular cloud, formed 682 00:35:11,700 --> 00:35:15,700 when stable, moist air passes over a mountain. 683 00:35:15,700 --> 00:35:20,700 And the resulting oscillating waves can cause the formation of clouds that, when lit up by 684 00:35:20,700 --> 00:35:23,700 the sun, look admittedly otherworldly. 685 00:35:23,700 --> 00:35:27,700 So, if you have yourself a close encounter, be sure to check the five-day forecast. 686 00:35:27,700 --> 00:35:31,700 It might just be cloudy with no chance of aliens. 687 00:35:38,700 --> 00:35:39,700 Oh! 688 00:35:40,700 --> 00:35:41,700 Oh, f***! 689 00:35:41,700 --> 00:35:42,700 Oh, f***! 690 00:35:42,700 --> 00:35:43,700 Jess! 691 00:35:44,700 --> 00:35:45,700 F***! 692 00:35:49,700 --> 00:35:50,700 I'm good. 693 00:35:51,700 --> 00:35:52,700 Okay. 694 00:35:52,700 --> 00:35:53,700 Okay. 695 00:35:53,700 --> 00:35:54,700 Adventure continues. 696 00:35:54,700 --> 00:35:55,700 Over here? 697 00:35:56,700 --> 00:35:58,700 Great school gymnastics. 698 00:35:58,700 --> 00:36:01,700 Still paying dividends after all these years. 699 00:36:02,700 --> 00:36:06,700 With near disaster behind us, we regroup on the other side of the stream and then press 700 00:36:06,700 --> 00:36:10,700 on with the hike to look for evidence of the UFO crash. 701 00:36:11,700 --> 00:36:12,700 Okay, so let's see. 702 00:36:12,700 --> 00:36:13,700 I think we go over here. 703 00:36:13,700 --> 00:36:14,700 Here. 704 00:36:17,700 --> 00:36:18,700 Let me check the map. 705 00:36:22,700 --> 00:36:23,700 Yeah, I think this is it. 706 00:36:23,700 --> 00:36:24,700 So what's the plan? 707 00:36:24,700 --> 00:36:27,700 I think we just start metal detecting all around this area. 708 00:36:28,700 --> 00:36:34,700 While the DAPCAM we set up records any strange lights over the volcano, and Jess uses the 709 00:36:34,700 --> 00:36:40,700 metal detector to look for any traces of an alleged UFO crash, I break out the magnetometer. 710 00:36:42,700 --> 00:36:47,700 This device should detect variations in electromagnetic fields emanating from the earth, which could 711 00:36:47,700 --> 00:36:49,700 suggest seismic activity. 712 00:36:49,700 --> 00:36:53,700 And if there are earthquakes, there might be earthquake lights. 713 00:36:54,700 --> 00:36:55,700 Ooh, careful. 714 00:36:55,700 --> 00:36:56,700 Slippery. 715 00:36:56,700 --> 00:36:57,700 Slippery. 716 00:36:57,700 --> 00:36:59,700 It's going to get slipperier now that it's raining again. 717 00:37:00,700 --> 00:37:03,700 Okay, time to put the jackets on. 718 00:37:03,700 --> 00:37:04,700 Put your jacket back on. 719 00:37:07,700 --> 00:37:08,700 Thank you. 720 00:37:09,700 --> 00:37:10,700 All set. 721 00:37:10,700 --> 00:37:11,700 All right, keep going this way? 722 00:37:11,700 --> 00:37:12,700 Yeah. 723 00:37:13,700 --> 00:37:15,700 You getting any hits on your end? 724 00:37:16,700 --> 00:37:18,700 Nothing crazy right now. 725 00:37:19,700 --> 00:37:20,700 Whoa! 726 00:37:21,700 --> 00:37:23,700 All right, let's dig. 727 00:37:24,700 --> 00:37:25,700 That's good. 728 00:37:26,700 --> 00:37:29,700 Something in here is setting off the metal detector. 729 00:37:29,700 --> 00:37:34,700 But if we're not seeing anything in this, I don't know if that means it's really deep 730 00:37:34,700 --> 00:37:39,700 in, or if it's minuscule, yet clearly we're getting hits on. 731 00:37:39,700 --> 00:37:40,700 Yeah. 732 00:37:40,700 --> 00:37:41,700 Let's move on. 733 00:37:41,700 --> 00:37:53,700 Just, it just peaked for a second. 734 00:37:53,700 --> 00:37:54,700 Where? 735 00:37:54,700 --> 00:37:55,700 Right around here. 736 00:37:55,700 --> 00:37:56,700 Right around here? 737 00:37:56,700 --> 00:37:57,700 Oh, it just did it again. 738 00:37:57,700 --> 00:37:58,700 What the hell? 739 00:37:58,700 --> 00:37:59,700 Whoa! 740 00:38:01,700 --> 00:38:02,700 Right here. 741 00:38:02,700 --> 00:38:03,700 Right there? 742 00:38:03,700 --> 00:38:04,700 It's still in there. 743 00:38:04,700 --> 00:38:05,700 Oh, yeah. 744 00:38:05,700 --> 00:38:06,700 There's something in there. 745 00:38:06,700 --> 00:38:07,700 Oh. 746 00:38:07,700 --> 00:38:08,700 Did you hit something? 747 00:38:08,700 --> 00:38:09,700 It's still in there. 748 00:38:09,700 --> 00:38:10,700 Did you hit something? 749 00:38:10,700 --> 00:38:11,700 I think so. 750 00:38:15,700 --> 00:38:16,700 Oh! 751 00:38:16,700 --> 00:38:17,700 Holy f***, Jess. 752 00:38:17,700 --> 00:38:18,700 What is that? 753 00:38:18,700 --> 00:38:20,700 Oh my God, what is that? 754 00:38:27,700 --> 00:38:28,700 Oh! 755 00:38:28,700 --> 00:38:31,700 What the f***? 756 00:38:31,700 --> 00:38:33,700 What is this? 757 00:38:34,700 --> 00:38:36,700 Let me see what we get. 758 00:38:37,700 --> 00:38:38,700 That's a huge hit. 759 00:38:38,700 --> 00:38:40,700 That's a huge hit. 760 00:38:41,700 --> 00:38:49,700 This metal disc is surprisingly heavy, and the fact that it's a powerful magnet makes this find even more bizarre. 761 00:38:49,700 --> 00:38:53,700 So I'm bagging this bad boy for further examination. 762 00:38:53,700 --> 00:38:54,700 Got it? 763 00:38:54,700 --> 00:38:56,700 Well, Jess, I gotta say, your guy didn't lie. 764 00:38:56,700 --> 00:38:57,700 No, he did not. 765 00:38:57,700 --> 00:38:59,700 Something was here. 766 00:38:59,700 --> 00:39:06,700 We stay on the hunt for any other possible crash evidence until Mother Nature chases us away. 767 00:39:06,700 --> 00:39:12,700 Jess, the river levels with all this rain, I'll be getting higher, so we should really probably get out of here. 768 00:39:15,700 --> 00:39:22,700 My team went to new heights to investigate the unidentified luminous objects flying around El Popo. 769 00:39:22,700 --> 00:39:30,700 Jess started with the theory that UFOs may be attracted to metallic elements brought to the surface by volcanic eruptions. 770 00:39:30,700 --> 00:39:33,700 We'll find us some volcanic rocks. 771 00:39:33,700 --> 00:39:39,700 We tested the lava rock she collected, and they contained greater than average concentrations of radon. 772 00:39:39,700 --> 00:39:44,700 Uranium decays into radium, which further decays into radon. 773 00:39:44,700 --> 00:39:52,700 Could the presence of uranium inside and spewing out of the volcano make El Popo a tempting target for extraterrestrials? 774 00:39:52,700 --> 00:39:55,700 Oh, this is our bright flash. 775 00:39:55,700 --> 00:40:01,700 We checked the Dapcam footage to identify the source of the flashes Phil and Jess saw. 776 00:40:01,700 --> 00:40:09,700 The device did start to lock onto something in the sky, but likely due to the weather conditions, it couldn't track it. 777 00:40:09,700 --> 00:40:17,700 So there's no telling if it was a UFO, lightning from the storm, or some other natural occurrence that Phil suspected. 778 00:40:17,700 --> 00:40:25,700 But would any natural phenomena explain what pilots and air traffic controllers have seen in the skies around El Popo? 779 00:40:25,700 --> 00:40:32,700 It's worth noting that natural occurrences probably wouldn't show up as a moving dot on radar. 780 00:40:32,700 --> 00:40:37,700 We also reviewed the images captured from the air and the ground. 781 00:40:37,700 --> 00:40:45,700 The light that zoomed across Phil's fleer appears to match some of the webcam videos, and could potentially be electrified ash. 782 00:40:45,700 --> 00:40:48,700 Oh my God, what is that? 783 00:40:48,700 --> 00:40:53,700 And finally, we had the strange metal disc from the alleged crash site analyzed. 784 00:40:54,700 --> 00:41:01,700 Turns out it's made from a steel alloy, but while it was forged from materials we can find here on our planet, 785 00:41:01,700 --> 00:41:07,700 the mechanical engineers we showed it to had no earthly idea what it's used for. 786 00:41:07,700 --> 00:41:15,700 Though we can't yet confirm whether the mystery lights at El Popo are terrestrial in origin or something extra. 787 00:41:15,700 --> 00:41:21,700 Whatever's happening in the skies over Mexico City, 788 00:41:21,700 --> 00:41:24,700 the world is watching.