On March 13, 1997, Arizona skies became the stage for one of the most widely reported UFO sightings in modern times. Known as the Phoenix Incident, thousands across the state reported seeing a series of glowing orbs forming a V-shaped pattern, moving silently through the night. This event, observed over a large area, remains one of the most debated occurrences in UFO history.
Just two weeks later, another incident involving Captain Craig Button, a seasoned Air Force pilot, sparked intense interest. Button’s unexpected flight deviation during a routine training mission, followed by the discovery of his plane wrecked in a remote Colorado area, led many to question whether his death was an accident or something more sinister.
The timing of these two events—the Phoenix Incident and Captain Button’s fatal crash—has drawn scrutiny. Both involved military aircraft and occurred within a short timeframe, leading some to speculate that Button’s death might have been deliberate, possibly to suppress sensitive information about the Phoenix Incident. The Air Force’s official explanation, suggesting Button took his own life, has not quelled suspicions, especially given the numerous inconsistencies and unanswered questions surrounding the case.
Captain Button was highly respected, known for his professionalism and skill. On April 2, 1997, during a routine training mission with two other aircraft, Button inexplicably broke formation and flew hundreds of miles off course. His flight path, erratic and seemingly purposeless, ended in a mountainside crash in Colorado. Search teams took 21 days to locate the wreckage, discovering that the four 500-pound bombs Button’s A-10 Thunderbolt II had been carrying were missing—a detail that has only fueled further speculation.
The Air Force’s investigation into Button’s disappearance and subsequent death was thorough but failed to provide a clear explanation for his actions. No distress signals were sent, and there were no indications that Button had been in any trouble before he broke away from his flight group. The theory of suicide was put forward, but it seemed based more on the lack of other explanations than on concrete evidence. This lack of a definitive cause has led to alternative theories, with some suggesting that Button might have been silenced to prevent him from revealing what he knew about the Phoenix Incident.
The possibility of a cover-up, while speculative, is not without precedent. Military involvement in UFO sightings has often been kept secret, with official explanations frequently falling short of satisfying public curiosity. In this context, Captain Button’s unexplained actions and his tragic end take on a more ominous significance. Could he have stumbled upon something related to the Phoenix Incident—something so explosive that he was willing to risk his life to expose it? Or was he simply caught in a much larger and more complex web of secrecy that has long surrounded UFO phenomena and military operations?
As years have passed, the mystery surrounding Captain Craig Button’s death and its possible connection to the Phoenix Incident has only deepened. Despite multiple investigations and countless hours of research by both official bodies and independent investigators, no conclusive answers have been found. The Air Force’s narrative of suicide has been met with skepticism, and the lack of a clear motive or explanation leaves room for alternative theories to grow.
Captain Craig Button’s life and career were marked by his dedication to the Air Force and his reputation as a skilled pilot. Born into a military family, Button had always aspired to follow in his father’s footsteps and serve his country. He graduated from the Air Force Academy with honors and quickly rose through the ranks, earning the respect of his peers and superiors alike. By all accounts, Button was not the type of person who would simply abandon his responsibilities or act irrationally, making his sudden and unexplainable behavior on April 2, 1997, all the more puzzling.
The day began like any other for Captain Button and his fellow pilots. They were scheduled to participate in a routine training mission, flying in formation over the Arizona desert. Button’s A-10 Thunderbolt II, known as the “Warthog,” was a formidable aircraft designed for close air support and ground-attack missions. It was heavily armed, carrying a variety of weapons, including the four 500-pound bombs that would later become a focal point of the investigation. As the formation took to the sky, there was no indication that anything was amiss. The pilots communicated with each other and their base, maintaining the disciplined order expected in such operations.
However, without warning or explanation, Button’s plane suddenly broke formation. He turned his aircraft sharply away from the others and began to fly off course. His actions were baffling—there were no signs of distress, no radio calls for help, and no apparent reason for his deviation. The other pilots, caught off guard, tried to reach Button over the radio, but their attempts were met with silence. As they watched, Button’s plane continued on its erratic path, eventually disappearing from sight.
What followed was a chaotic and desperate search effort that spanned multiple states. The Air Force, recognizing the seriousness of the situation, deployed all available resources to locate Button and his aircraft. Search teams scoured the desert and mountainous regions of Arizona and Colorado, using helicopters, ground teams, and even satellite imagery in their efforts. Despite their best efforts, it took 21 days to finally locate the crash site in a remote area of Colorado. The wreckage was scattered across a mountainside, the A-10 Thunderbolt II having disintegrated on impact. Yet, despite the extensive search, the four 500-pound bombs that had been on board were nowhere to be found.
The discovery of the wreckage raised more questions than it answered. How had Button managed to fly such a great distance undetected? Why had he not communicated with his base or his fellow pilots? And most perplexingly, where were the bombs? The Air Force launched an immediate investigation, but the results were inconclusive. The official report suggested that Button had likely taken his own life, but there was little evidence to support this theory. Button had no history of mental illness, no financial or personal troubles, and no apparent reason to end his life.
The theory that Button had taken his own life was met with widespread skepticism, both within the military and among the general public. Many found it difficult to believe that a highly trained and disciplined pilot would simply abandon his mission and fly hundreds of miles off course with the intention of crashing his plane. The absence of a clear motive only fueled speculation that something far more complex was at play.
Some began to question whether Button had been coerced or even forced into his actions. The idea that he might have been silenced to prevent him from revealing sensitive information gained traction, particularly in light of the Phoenix Incident just weeks earlier. Could Button have been aware of something related to the mysterious lights that the military wanted to keep hidden? Was he trying to escape or send a message when he broke formation? Or had he been manipulated into his fatal flight, perhaps under duress or threat?
These questions, though speculative, are not without merit. The military has a long history of secrecy, particularly when it comes to matters involving UFOs and unexplained phenomena. The Phoenix Incident, seen by thousands of witnesses, had already put the Air Force under scrutiny. Despite the widespread public interest, the military’s response to the Phoenix Incident was tepid, offering little in the way of explanation. The official stance was that the lights were flares dropped during a training exercise, but this explanation was widely dismissed by those who had witnessed the event.
In this context, the timing of Button’s death is particularly suspect. His unexplained actions came at a time when the Phoenix Incident was still fresh in the public’s mind, and the Air Force was under pressure to provide answers. The theory that Button might have had information about the Phoenix Incident—and that he was silenced to prevent him from sharing it—cannot be entirely dismissed. Such a scenario, while dramatic, would not be unprecedented in the history of military operations and secrecy.
As the investigation into Button’s death continued, the Air Force struggled to provide a coherent narrative. The missing bombs, in particular, became a focal point of the investigation. These were not small or easily misplaced items—they were 500-pound explosives, designed to cause significant destruction. The fact that they were never found raised serious questions about what had happened during Button’s flight. Some speculated that the bombs had been removed before the crash, perhaps as part of a larger operation or cover-up. Others suggested that they had been jettisoned over a remote area, with Button attempting to prevent them from being used for some nefarious purpose.
Despite these theories, no conclusive evidence was ever found to explain the missing bombs. The Air Force maintained its stance that Button had likely taken his own life, but the lack of a clear motive or explanation left many unsatisfied. The investigation, while thorough, failed to provide answers to the most pressing questions: Why did Button break formation? Where were the bombs? And was his death truly self-inflicted, or something more complex?
The mystery of Captain Craig Button’s death remains one of the most perplexing and unsettling cases in modern military history. Despite extensive investigations and countless hours of research, the true reasons behind Button’s actions on April 2, 1997, have never been fully explained. The Air Force’s conclusion, though officially accepted, has done little to quell the suspicions of those who believe there is more to the story. The connection to the Phoenix Incident, while speculative, adds a layer of intrigue that continues to capture the imagination of those who study UFO phenomena and military secrecy.
As time passes, the questions surrounding Button’s death become no less urgent. Was he simply a troubled pilot who took his own life, or was he the victim of a larger conspiracy designed to protect sensitive information? The lack of clear answers ensures that this case will continue to be debated and discussed for years to come. Whether Button’s actions were driven by personal demons or external pressures, his death serves as a stark reminder of the many mysteries that still surround the events of March and April 1997.
In the absence of definitive proof, alternative theories will continue to flourish. The idea that Button was silenced to prevent him from revealing what he knew about the Phoenix Incident remains a compelling possibility, particularly given the secrecy that has long surrounded the military’s involvement in UFO sightings. While it is unlikely that the full truth will ever be known, the case of Captain Craig Button stands as a haunting example of the unresolved questions that often accompany incidents of unexplained aerial phenomena.
For those who continue to investigate this case, the search for answers goes on. New evidence, if it ever comes to light, could provide the key to unlocking the mystery of what really happened to Captain Button and whether his death was indeed connected to the Phoenix Incident. Until then, the story of Craig Button remains an open book, filled with unanswered questions and unexplained events that will likely continue to captivate those who seek to understand the truth behind one of the most baffling episodes in modern military history.
