A mysterious event recently caught the attention of American UFO investigators.

The trail of fire was reported by a Salem resident around 4:50 p.m. local time Thursday.

the initial witness feared that the object was a possible plane crash.

However, this theory was dismissed by the US Air Force, according to Lt. Dustin Newman of the Polk County Sheriff's Office (PCSO).

Despite a widespread search, the location of the mysterious crash remains undetermined, according to the PCSO.

A strange “fireball” seen crashing into a small American town has baffled leading scientists.

The PCSO posted footage of the sighting on its official Facebook page.

they wrote on Facebook: “The PCSO is currently investigating a large fireball falling to earth in the southwest area of Polk County.

“The fireball has been reported as a plane crash and the PCSO is working to locate a possible landing site and exactly what the fireball is.

"The PCSO will be using aircraft throughout the day on Friday in an attempt to cover the rugged terrain in the area and wrap up the search."

"The PCSO used all available aviation tracking systems and no aircraft were lost."

Several state and local authorities, including the US Forest Service, a Life Flight Network helicopter and a local forestry company, are working together to determine the source of the fireball.

the mystery deepened when the American Meteor Society and NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies declined to say whether meteors had been collected in the area.

Police have since opened an investigation into the sighting, amid a frenzy of speculation about its true origins.

Richard Romano, who captured photographs of the sighting, ruled out a meteor.

He said: "I've seen meteors before, and they're bright white and in five seconds they're gone.

Various online viewers speculated on theories such as secret military evidence, aliens and meteorites.

One resident said: "It could be related to the secret military stuff going on in old town Valsetz, Oregon."

Elizabeth Yon commented: "Looks like space junk, I've seen it before, usually a big ball of fire with a purple tail."

A remarkable event occurred when US officials began investigating a mysterious sighting following the "disappearance" of an interesting UfO crash.

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