Eye witnes saw the peonix lights with his telescope and saw planes.

The Phoenix lights where 2 events, one where the flares that where dropped and the other where planes flying in formation.

Mitch was looking through his telescope waiting to see the comet Hailey that night as where other people, when he saw the pheonix lights and looked at it through his telescope all he saw where planes. Most likely the snowbirds that fly in formation and where in the sky that night.

More info here: https://youtu.be/fkiyLf0X1iE?si=-bjx2kFS9D22cSaL

Source: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/the-great-ufo-cover-up-6422930