Wild conspiracy theories have been growing after strange cloud formations appeared over Alaska.
Social media has boomed with various conspiracy theories as to what could have caused a strange line of clouds pictured above Lazy Mountain in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, at around 7.00am on Thursday, 7 April.
A helicopter rescue team was subsequently sent by Alaska State Troopers to investigate, pictured by a social media user flying in the area at around 9.00am.
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Posting in public Facebook group Palmer Alaska Buzz, Elisabeth Griesmer Ahlvin shared images of the strange-looking cloud.
She wrote: "7:16am These photos were taken over a 45 second period. I know there's been speculation but has anyone seen anything definitive?"
Followers flocked to the comments with suggestions, from the clouds being a result of a meteor, a crashed plane or a rocket launch.
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"Wow. Best shots of this mystery yet. Looks like a meteor more so than a plane, but would a meteor make a large contrail like that? Baffling," one said.
Another was pretty certain that the clouds were a result of some sort of aircraft. "Certainly looks like 4 trails of smoke as if from aircraft engines," they stated.
However, others were quick to distill the theory, checking flight trackers and as to whether there had been any reports of crashes.
Whatever the clouds were a result of, a third user reflected: "Looks like something from a Peter Jackson movie."
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Heather Jackson similarly took to Facebook to share images of the scene, with followers adding to certain theories and even suggesting new ones such as a 'lazy mountain eruption'.
"Someone drinking piping hot coffee on their porch," another joked.
Alien involvement was also suggested, with a user theorising the clouds were formed as a result of an 'UFO crash'.
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Alaska State Troopers took to Facebook to respond to the widespread circulation of images of the cloud formation on social media and various conspiracy theories flying around.
"There have been no reports of overdue aircraft or ELT activations indicating an aircraft crash," it stated.
It also noted the rescue team 'located nothing suspicious' upon its inspection of the scene and 'no signs of crashed aircraft'.
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It continued: "Further investigation revealed that a large commercial jet was flying in that area around the time that the photos and video were taken. The aircraft was contacted and reported normal flight operations on its way to JFK airport in New York. Troopers believe that the photos and videos showed a contrail from the commercial jet combined with the rising sun which together caused the unique atmospheric sight."
The Troopers concluded by thanking 'the numerous Alaskans' who reported the incident to law enforcement.
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Topics: Alaska, US News, Conspiracy Theories
Poppy Bilderbeck