Residents in Ramsey, Minnesota, reported observing a series of unusual lights in the night sky during August 2025. These sightings coincided with a significant runway reconstruction project at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), which led to altered flight patterns.
One witness described seeing between 20 to 30 lights over a ten-minute period, arranged in a triangular formation. Some lights reportedly flashed yellow or green on the left and red on the right. Occasionally, a single light would intensify before slowly fading as it moved. The witness also mentioned a similar observation by their spouse a few years prior.
The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) conducted the second phase of runway safety improvements for Runway 12R-30L, an east-west runway on the south side of Terminal 1. This phase, which included runway grading, drainage enhancements, and the reconstruction of Taxiway D, began on August 18, 2025, and was scheduled to conclude by September 26, 2025.
The MAC had previously communicated that these runway closures could result in changes to flight patterns and potentially affect noise levels in surrounding communities. While the specific sightings in Ramsey were not among the five unidentified flying object reports received by the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) in August 2025, the timing of the events has fueled speculation. However, the most plausible explanation points to the adjusted flight paths resulting from the MSP runway closure.