US President Donald Trump has ordered a federal investigation into the deaths and disappearances of at least 10 American scientists and researchers with links to sensitive aerospace, defence, and unexplained aerial phenomena programmes.
Officials confirmed that the president was briefed earlier this week on the cases, some of which date back to mid-2023. The White House said it is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other relevant agencies to examine whether any connections exist among the incidents.
“These are serious matters,” Trump said, noting that several of those involved were “very important people.”
As reported by the Economic Times on Sunday, Trump added that more information is expected to emerge in the coming days and expressed hope that the cases are unrelated.
Concerns about a possible pattern have been raised by a member of the House Oversight Committee, Eric Burlison, who described the incidents as “too coincidental” to ignore.
Burlison has called for a comprehensive investigation, suggesting that the scientists’ access to classified information—including research related to unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs), commonly known as UFOs—may be a factor.
According to reports, some individuals died under unclear or violent circumstances, while others vanished without a trace.
Among them is Michael David Hicks, a physicist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory who specialised in comets and asteroids, who died in July 2023. The cause of his death was not publicly disclosed.
Other cases include the killing of a Massachusetts-based nuclear physicist and the disappearance of researchers and contractors linked to institutions such as Los Alamos National Laboratory and NASA facilities.
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In one instance, a scientist reported missing in late 2025 was later found dead months afterward.
Burlison also pointed to the disappearance of a senior Air Force official who had reportedly attempted to contact him regarding research into UAPs before vanishing earlier this year.
While no official link has been established among the cases, Burlison has speculated that foreign adversaries, including China, Russia, or Iran, could be involved.
Authorities have not confirmed any such connection.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration is conducting a “holistic review” of all reported incidents to identify any potential commonalities.
“No stone will be unturned,” she said, adding that updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
The cases have drawn widespread attention due to the high-level nature of the individuals involved and the sensitive areas of research they were associated with.
For now, officials stress that the investigation remains in its early stages, with no definitive conclusions about whether the deaths and disappearances are linked.
