UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects), also known as flying saucers or flying discs, are alien interstellar spacecraft in Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online.
The term UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon) is also used for aerial phenomena that cannot be immediately explained.
Description[]
The UFO is generally a circular interstellar spacecraft that appears in certain areas of San Andreas, specifically Blaine County.
So far, three types have been discovered, which share their traits with one another and only change in design:
- FIB UFO: Two of them look identical, with a circular shape that looks more like the "classic" UFO. These have a dark body and several lights of varying colors on them, while the top side has FIB markings. Both only differ in that one disappears when being very close and the other one is just flying in the sky, also emitting a strange sound that affects aircraft engines. A third one is crashed in the sea, just off the coast of Paleto Bay and can be found with a submarine. This one apparently also has FIB markings on it, but can be hard to distinguish due to the lack of light when deep in the ocean and the dirty texture of the sunken UFO. From the beginning of Halloween Week 2 in 2022, to the end of October, these UFOs would appear in Grand Theft Auto Online around San Andreas in set locations on specific days, as part of the Sightseeing event. As in story mode, if a player flew too close to the UFO in an aircraft, its engine would be disabled. Taking a picture of one and sending it to Omega would reward the player with $15,000. This event returned in Week 2 of Halloween 2023.
- Fort Zancudo UFO: This UFOs looks like a stealth aircraft, with a body resembling the real world B-2 Spirit, but with many flat panels extending out in all directions and forming a rough circular shape, that moves periodically as a result of stabilizing in the air. It features a central turbine, composed of two circular sections that move on both sides. Under the cab, there is a spherical device that looks like a rotatory cam that moves periodically and blue lines on exposed frames that would be the propulsion system. This UFO also seems to emit loud noises; if the player gets near it, it will emit a rather loud screech, and the screen will begin to distort. Vehicles may be pushed off the UFO and disabled until the vehicle is out of range. This UFO features transparent glass, through which a cockpit area can be seen, where two humanoid beings operating the UFO are visible (this can be seen clearly when viewing the UFO's 3D model)[2] - however both beings' models lack proper textures, utilizing the improperly mapped UFO's outside panels' textures instead. This can be seen here. In October 2020, during the Los Santos Summer Special's Halloween Week in Grand Theft Auto Online, a larger version of this UFO appeared docked in one of Fort Zancudo's hangars, guarded by soldiers. It could only be seen during a temporary business battle in Grand Theft Auto Online. It returned during Week 4 of Halloween 2022 and Week 2 of Halloween 2023.
- Crashed UFO: This UFO looks identical to the FIB UFOs, except without the FIB markings. It is only available in a resupply mission in Grand Theft Auto Online. The mission featuring this UFO can only be triggered if the player completes 600 resupply missions and starts a new one between the hours of 21:00 and 23:00. If all conditions are met, the game has the random possibility of starting this mission.
There are no ways of acquiring or piloting any of them, as they are all props (like the Twinjet). The UFO above Fort Zancudo has a locked-vehicle script and seems to be protected by force-fields, as the player can be thrown away from it while trying to parachute to the top. The UFO above Sandy Shores will push the player away if approached too closely, while the UFO on top of Mount Chiliad will simply vanish (it is not solid).
Be careful when approaching them in an aircraft; when the player is near any of the UFOs, these will cause a temporary engine shutdown, making it a risk to collide with them when travelling directly toward them. The UFOs are immune to weapons and are unable to be locked-on with the Buzzard or the P-996 Lazer targeting.
The sound effects heard when standing close to either the FIB UFO or the Fort Zancudo UFO can be listened to here.
Fort Zancudo UFO writings[]
The words "Segregate and Rearrange" are present on the cockpit of the Fort Zancudo UFO (rearranging the letters from "segregate" can lead to the words "Easter egg").
Mount Chiliad Drawing[]
A mysterious drawing on a wall in the Mount Chiliad cable car station appears to show the mountain with lightning emanating from it and an odd symbol, possibly an eye or a UFO, on top. Other notable details on the drawing are depictions of a UFO, a person on a jetpack, a cracked egg, and multiple boxes with Xs in the middle of them. Nothing else is known about the meaning of the drawing.
Under the observation platform on top of the mountain is the same symbol featured on top of the drawing. Carved on the side of the platform are the words "Come back when your story is complete". This serves only to inform the player that they must reach 100% completion in order to see the UFO. This same symbol is also painted on the side of the mountain and in the Beam Me Up area in Sandy Shores, along with a drawing of a rain cloud and the moon, another way to inform the player of the UFOs viewing requirements, in this case being stormy weather and the time being 3AM.
Locations[]
These cannot be seen from a great distance. Therefore, a bit of searching is needed:
- FIB markings version – Appears at the top of Mount Chiliad at 3AM during stormy weather, after achieving 100% Completion in GTA V.
- FIB markings version – Above Sandy Shores, almost over the Beam Me Up area. (100% required)
- FIB markings version – At the bottom of the sea, northeast of North Point (map). Reachable by Submarine. (100% not required)
- Unique version – Above the Fort Zancudo military base. Much higher than most clouds. (100% required.)
- Larger unique version – Inside of one of Fort Zancudo's hangars. Could only be seen in a business battle during Halloween Week 2020.
- Crashed version – Appears on the south of Fort Zancudo. Available in a resupply mission.
Possible origins[]
There's not much proof of who really owns them and why, but there are multiple theories:
- Judging by the writings on the UFOs and the human models found inside the Fort Zancudo UFO, it is most likely that these aircraft are government owned military projects. Considering the fact that they seem to be kept in secret from the public, this is most likely inspired by a popular belief that the US government secretly operates advanced saucer-type stealth aircraft from Area 51.
- It could also serve as an Easter egg to movies and myths according to which some government agencies are really co-operating with extraterrestrial beings. Many pedestrians, such as tramps, in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, as well as Grand Theft Auto IV and Episodes from Liberty City, often talk about such aliens.
- They could all belong to the same race of aliens.
Gallery[]
The sunken UFO, found in the ocean at the north of the map.
The Fort Zancudo UFO appears high in the sky above Fort Zancudo.
The Sandy Shores UFO appears high in the sky above Sandy Shores. It has FIB markings.
UFO above Mount Chiliad.[ref?ref?Only visible during thunderstorms at 3AM]
The "Bishop's WTF?!" UFO.
Crashed UFO near the Zancudo River in a resupply mission.
A UFO hovering over the ocean off the coast of Procopio Beach as part of an event week.
Multiple UFOs hovering over Downtown Los Santos as part of Halloween Week 2021.
Visitors Unwelcome, a painting by Kaito Tsukusa at The Diamond Casino & Resort.
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, a large UFO prop can be found at the InterGlobal Studios, possibly used in one of Steve Scott's films.
- In Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, a similar UFO prop can be found at the Lil' Probe'Inn.
- The Flying UFOs are absent in Grand Theft Auto Online. However, if the player goes to the exact location of the UFOs, the screen will still distort, but the spacecraft will not be visible nor solid. Also, the engine of the player's helicopter will NOT be shut off unlike in Grand Theft Auto V.
- This may be a glitch or a bug. By going to the UFOs location, the game's sound system will start to glitch and will lag even after getting far away from the location or even when switching to Grand Theft Auto V. This can be fixed by restarting the system.
- Strangely, on the enhanced version of the game, the FIB marked UFOs' are glitched. The FIB markings are rotating the opposite way to the disc.
- In Vinewood, there's a large advertisement depicting a UFO, connected to the roof of "Bishop's WTF?!" The UFO is covered with neon lamps and makes stereotypical UFO noises.
- In Grand Theft Auto Online, as part of The Diamond Casino & Resort update, the player can buy the "Procopio Sharks" painting to decorate their Master Penthouse. The picture references the sunken UFO, which is located in North Point, next to Procopio Beach.
- In the Race and Chase arcade game series, while driving through Las Venturas, a UFO will fly across the top of the screen.
- Moreover, a UFO can be seen on the boxart of Race and Chase: Get Truckin'.
References[]
- ↑ LSA Operation - Surgical Strike#UAV Blueprints
- ↑ YouTube(05/06/2025)