An in-depth government report “prepared by and for the military” obtained by a Nevada newsroom details a 2004 incident involving an alleged “UFO” sighting recorded by the US military off California’s coast 14 years ago.

The “Tic Tac” incident – so named for the white, fast-moving, mint-shaped object that was involved – made waves last year when first revealed by the New York Times. Over the course of two weeks in 2004, a 13.7-meter-long (45-foot-long) Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) defined as “aerodynamic” with “no visible means to generate lift” was detected by US naval ships in short glimpses.

“The AAVs would descend ‘very rapidly’ from approximately 60,000 feet [18,300 meters] down to approximately 50 feet [15 meters] in a matter of seconds,” reads the report, which included several statements from pilots and radar operators on the ships.

Based on the recently leaked report, the undated document suggests there may have been something in the water as well. F-18 aircraft were called into the area after the USS Princeton wasn’t able to lock on to the AAV. The report details the moment a pilot noticed a disturbance under the surface of the water resembling a “barely submerged reef or island”. As the pilot flew away, the object reportedly disturbed the water underneath it in “frothy waves and foam” resembling water that was “boiling”. The unidentified flying “Tic Tac” object was potentially rendezvousing with the massive underwater one, according to the report.

Earlier this year, the Department of Defense released three separate videos showing an encounter between a Navy fighter jet and an unknown object. For years, the department’s Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program was kept secret until last year when the Pentagon announced its then-defunct program never gained evidence of alien life having visited Earth.

The military has neither confirmed nor denied the report, but the news station confirms that people who are “familiar” with the program say the report – which lacks a logo and was given to reporters during a meeting in DC – is the “real deal”. A key finding of the report notes the AAV is not something that belongs to the US army or other nations (that we know of) but contains systems so advance it is able to turn itself “invisible” to radar and the human eye.

However, another "highly classified version" (possibly with more information) was also reportedly written, but unfortunately is unlikely to be released.

Skeptics and experts alike say earthly explanations are often the cause, such as birds or weather balloons.

Luis Elizondo, a former intelligence official who led the Pentagon’s UFO program, says that is unlikely.

“My personal belief is that there is very compelling evidence that we may not be alone," he told CNN last December.

Other possibilities include advanced technology from an organization or government that is not yet public. According to the New York Times, Commander Fravor’s superiors did not investigate the situation further, perhaps odd behavior for such an anomaly.

Skeptic or believer? We'll leave that up to you.

[H/T: KLAS]