An odd cloud formation over Alaska's Lazy Mountain has sparked several conspiracy theories on social media and even a search mission in the region itself, but Alaska officials said that after further investigation, the vision was nothing more than a contrail from a commercial jet combining with the rising sun.
Many reasons for the huge wormlike cloud that popped were bantered about, including theories that it could have been the result of a UFO or plane crash, weapons tests, a meteor, or even a Russian missile, reports The New York Post.
The Alaska State Troopers posted on Facebook that a rescue team was sent out to search for a crash on the mountain, which is located near Anchorage, but found nothing unusual.
"Further investigation revealed that a large commercial jet was flying in that area around the time that the photos and video were taken. The aircraft was contacted and reported normal flight operations on its way to JFK airport in New York," the agency reported.
Troopers said they believe the photos and videos that surfaced showed the contrail from the commercial jet that had been flying in the area but said they "greatly appreciate the numerous Alaskans that reported the suspicious sight this morning to law enforcement."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.