Alien abductions is a common expression used to describe alleged encounters and interactions between humans and aliens. Some researchers find terms "abduction" and "abductee" inadequate, too negatively biased and narrow in scope, and prefer to talk about "encounters" and "experiencers" instead.

Reported abduction accounts all share a number of common features, resulting in a particular pattern. Central to a typical abduction narrative are certain specific medical-like examinations and procedures, which in turn often leave characteristic scars and wounds behind. Together with rare cases in which an object, possibly an implant, was recovered following an abduction, these marks and scars provide some form of physical evidence, however week and elusive, for the reality of alien encounters.[1]

Various attempts to provide a plausible explanation for alien abductions in terms of material sciences and known physical/ social/ psychological phenomena have generally failed.[2]

Many researchers complain about biased media coverage of the phenomenon, and distorted reporting on their work.[3] [4]

October 14, 1957 Antonio Villas Boas, a Brazilian farmer, was working fields when he noticed what appeared to be a bright red star in the sky, growing bigger in size as it approached him. Eventually, an egg-shaped object landed a short distance from him, and Boas was captured by occupants of the craft. Following a medical-like examination, which included taking large samples of his blood, Boas got seduced by a distinctly alien looking woman. He was then given a short guided tour around the exterior of the craft, and finally released from capture.[1]

September 19–20, 1961 Betty and Barney Hill see a UFO while driving, and suddenly notice that they are further down the road without being able to recall how did they get there.. Regressive hypnosis brings out memories of abduction by aliens.[2]

December 3, 1967 Patrolman Herbert Schirmer reports UFO sighting and later recalls alien abduction.[3]

October 11, 1973 Fifteen people vitnessed a UFO in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Subsequently, Calvin Parker and Charles Hickson report being abducted by strange, alien looking entities.[4]

November 5, 1975 Travis Walton sees a UFO and disappears for five days, reappearing with alien abduction memories. Recounted in his book Fire in the Sky, and a movie of the same title.[5]

August 20, 1976 Four men canoeing in the Allagash Waterway cannot account for an interval of "lost" time, following a UFO sighting. Dreams and regressive hypnosis uncover memories of abduction.[6]

December 26, 1985 Well-known writer Whitley Strieber sees alien in his bedroom and later recalls abduction, rejecting diagnosis of temporal lobe epilepsy[7]