I can't find the fascinating blog post written by a physicist who theorized what really happened with Bob Lazar. Ah the great enshitification. The interesting point he made is that Bob Lazar knew they were testing equipment that broke the SALT treaty (which he brought people to watch claiming it was a UFO captured spacecraft). So when the gov't fired him they were between a rock and hard place. Arrest him and it comes out they were breaking treaty. Or let me tell his UFO stories.

Similarly, there could be a human element in this story. Maybe the pilots screwed up somehow. Or were part of some silly love thing/prank. They probably did see something. But have gone the UFO angle because the other one isn't good for anyone.