UFO researchers have been left puzzled after an oddly-shaped UFO was spotted whizzing above the mysterious Area 51 base in the US.
Anders Otteson, who describes himself as a backpacker and videographer, was recording his journey through the Nevada desert on January 14 when he observed the unidentified craft passing overhead at around 3am local time.
The explorer had positioned himself in the Tikaboo Valley, camping on public land adjacent to Groom Lake Road, a location offering views of the restricted airspace surrounding the secretive base.
UFO enthusiasts have nicknamed the peculiar vessel the "Dorito" owing to its distinctive triangle configuration.
"Are we looking at a classified test flight or run-of-the-mill training sortie?" Mr Otteson remarked. "I certainly think we have something interesting here."
The YouTuber had already spotted what appeared to be a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber crossing the skies roughly two hours before the mysterious craft emerged, arriving from the northwest around 1am.
The second aircraft executed a low-altitude pass from the same direction, flying directly above his camping position before continuing onwards.
Despite sharing a similar V-wing configuration with the B-2, the Dorito exhibited markedly different characteristics.
UFO enthusiasts have nicknamed the peculiar vessel the 'Dorito'
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The craft featured a considerably flatter rear edge and lacked the jagged trailing section and distinct wings characteristic of America's stealth bomber fleet.
Its flight trajectory matched patterns typical of military aircraft conducting low passes over the region, though Mr Otteson was unable to ascertain the precise direction it was heading.
The facility has long served as a testing ground for revolutionary aircraft, including the F-117 Nighthawk, the nation's inaugural stealth bomber.
Alongside the visual sighting, a scanner belonging to fellow UFO researcher Joerg Arnu intercepted peculiar radio communications on the base's unencrypted frequencies.
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The facility has long served as a testing ground for revolutionary aircraft
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Rather than conventional military terminology, Mr Arnu claimed to have heard the craft uttering phrases such as "pretzel snack," "corona pretzel snacks zero with cheese," "profile Michelob," "Imperial with garlic," and "fridge hydrate".
This latest encounter mirrors incidents from 2014, when photographers captured similar triangle-shaped objects on two separate occasions.
Jeff Templin photographed the craft in Wichita, Kansas, whilst Steve Douglas documented an identical sighting in Amarillo, Texas.
Both images revealed an aircraft bearing no resemblance to any known Air Force planes or unmanned drones.
The crucial distinction with Mr Otteson's observation is its location above a facility synonymous with UFO reports since the 1950s.
The National UFO Reporting Centre has logged 10 sightings across America this January alone (file photo)
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Mr Otteson noted that his sighting contributes to a growing pattern of triangular objects reported over Southern California and Death Valley, both situated near the Nevada Test and Training Range where Area 51 is located.
The National UFO Reporting Centre has logged 10 sightings across America this January alone describing triangle-shaped objects in the sky.
These other reported UFOs differ from the Dorito, however, as witnesses described bright or flashing lights clearly visible from the ground.
Since November 2025, a total of 85 triangle-shaped UFO reports have been submitted from locations worldwide, spanning the UK, Canada, Germany, and Brazil.