Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
In 1989, Linda Napolitano claimed she was abducted by extraterrestrials outside her New York City apartment. She stated that three aliens levitated her from her 12th-floor apartment into a spacecraft hovering over Manhattan. Napolitano asserts that experiments were conducted on her before she was returned.
Netflix’s *The Manhattan Alien Abduction* docuseries revisits the incident and its aftermath, exploring both accounts from supporters and critiques from skeptics. The series includes perspectives from those close to Napolitano as well as from noted detractors of her story.
Filmmaker Carol Rainey, who was married to UFO researcher Budd Hopkins, claims the abduction was fabricated. Once supportive, Rainey later grew doubtful of Napolitano’s narrative, especially as she observed Napolitano’s behavior during hypnosis, which Rainey described as unusual.
Budd Hopkins, a UFO researcher who investigated Napolitano’s story, supported her claims and documented witness testimonies in his book, *Witnessed: True Story of the Brooklyn Bridge Abduction.* Hopkins maintained that Napolitano’s story aligned with reports from multiple “witnesses,” though these individuals were never publicly identified.
AI Generated image
According to Hopkins, about 20 people reportedly saw Napolitano’s abduction near the Brooklyn Bridge. However, no witnesses have ever come forward publicly, and the Netflix series does not reveal any new firsthand accounts. Hopkins used pseudonyms for the witnesses in his book, and no verifiable evidence has emerged to confirm their identities.
Hopkins’ investigation referenced two guards, “Richard” and “Dan,” who allegedly witnessed the abduction while protecting then-UN Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar. However, de Cuéllar denied involvement and refuted any claims of experiencing or witnessing an abduction, stating that these allegations were false.
Credit : NASA
Ahead of the docuseries premiere, Napolitano sued Netflix, alleging defamation, fraud, and breach of contract. She claims Netflix’s portrayal, especially with Rainey’s input, distorted her story and cast her in a negative light. The lawsuit argues that Netflix misrepresented her story and allowed Rainey excessive airtime to discredit her.
Despite extensive media coverage and debate, questions about the validity of the Brooklyn Bridge Abduction persist. While Napolitano maintains her account and claims multiple witnesses, critics continue to question the story’s credibility, with no clear consensus on whether the incident truly happened.