this is, in fact, the definition of how a government cover-up looks - an official story bought into by many but with actual participants openly stating it is false, and naming details.
Curiously, some aspects of the Roswell situation in terms of actual participants openly contradicting stories is quite similar. I make no judgement on the Roswell issue itself.
I figure like most UFOs, it was a secret/experimental military aircraft. I remember when I started in aviation electronics for the USMC and got a chance to see some of the F-117s on display in Pensacola how much they looked like the “triangles” people were reporting left and right back in the day.
As for aliens themselves, I’m sure there are other planets with life. The statistics are just mindboggling to think we’re the only planet in the so-called Goldilocks Zone. I just doubt they are here anal probbing rednecks.