Parliamentary Inquiry
Germany’s right-wing opposition party Alternative for Germany (AfD) has questioned the federal government about how public authorities handle reports of unidentified flying objects and other aerial phenomena. The inquiry, submitted by AfD co-chairs Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, asks whether German institutions collect information on unexplained sightings and whether any findings have emerged from those records.
The issue was raised against the backdrop of renewed international attention to unidentified anomalous phenomena, commonly known as UAPs. The AfD cited recent U.S. Pentagon reports, congressional hearings involving military pilots and government officials, and scientific reviews conducted by NASA. The parliamentary questions sought to establish whether Germany has comparable systems for documenting, assessing and responding to reports involving unexplained objects in the air or near-Earth space.
Government Response
The Federal Defense Ministry responded to the inquiry on behalf of the German government, with the answer published on the Bundestag’s website. Its central conclusion was that “There is no information available regarding unidentified aerial phenomena.” The ministry also said that the government does not use dedicated terms or definitions such as “UFO,” “UAP” or “unidentifiable contacts.”
That response appears to indicate that Germany does not maintain a publicly identified national database or specialized federal classification system for unexplained aerial sightings. It does not, however, establish that no unusual objects have ever been observed in German airspace. Rather, the ministry’s wording suggests that such reports are not organized under a formal, government-wide UAP or UFO framework.
Agencies Responsible for Monitoring
According to the ministry, responsibility for monitoring German airspace is divided among the Interior, Transport and Defense ministries. The government also said that monitoring objects near Earth in space falls under the responsibility of the ministries overseeing research, technology and space, together with the Defense Ministry.
The distribution of responsibilities reflects the fact that unidentified observations can involve several different areas of government activity. Airspace surveillance may relate to aviation safety, national security or law enforcement, while objects in orbit or near-Earth space may fall within scientific, technological or defense-related monitoring programs. The government’s response did not identify a single agency tasked specifically with investigating unexplained aerial phenomena.
No Dedicated Reporting Channels
The Defense Ministry further stated that pilots, air-traffic controllers and other personnel have no special reporting channels for sightings of unidentified objects in the atmosphere or in space. The response also indicated that there are no standardized federal guidelines directing public officials how to record or categorize such incidents.
This contrasts with efforts in the United States, where military and congressional attention has led to more formal discussions about reporting mechanisms and the evaluation of encounters that remain unexplained after preliminary review. Scientific investigations, including NASA’s work on UAP reporting, have generally emphasized the need for reliable data and consistent terminology rather than assuming that unexplained observations have extraterrestrial origins.
Broader Context
The AfD’s inquiry places UFO and UAP reporting within Germany’s parliamentary oversight process, but the government’s answer provides no indication of evidence confirming extraterrestrial craft or nonhuman technology. In many cases, unexplained sightings can result from incomplete data, misidentified aircraft, atmospheric effects, satellites, drones or other objects.
The exchange nevertheless highlights a gap between growing international interest in UAPs and Germany’s current administrative approach. Based on the published response, Berlin has no dedicated terminology, reporting system or central office for such cases. Whether the AfD or other lawmakers will pursue additional questions remains unclear.
