They failed to follow proper UFO protocols.
If you close your eyes for a minute or so the UFO will usually go away—then you do not have to risk being mocked by friends and family!
Ah yes, the classic “Close Eyes and It’s Gone” maneuver—standard issue for UFO avoidance! Though, to be fair, you already have to be a little crazy to work on submarines… so maybe we were the ones the UFOs were avoiding. 😉 And just think, the aliens have a hard time with their family too—“No really, we saw a submarine! For reals!”