(Credit: the Sun, screenshot)

The UK Sun newspaper apologized to aliens for a story saying “Flying saucers [were seen] over British Scientology HQ.”  Yep, you read that right. The News Corp-owned newspaper said sorry to aliens.

The Sun indicated that the apology was in reaction to “a letter for lawyers for the Church” of Scientology.  The apology has gotten tons of attention online because instead of apologizing to the Church of Scientology, the newspaper’s statement read, in part, that “we apologise to any alien lifeforms for linking them to Scientologists.”

The original story that prompted the apology was published June 8 and claimed that  “three passenger jets had a close encounter with UFOs above Britain’s Scientology HQ.”

Further, the Sun claimed “Oddly it emerged a day later that Scientologists — famously followed by Tom Cruise — carved a message to aliens in hills in New Mexico, US. The cult believes aliens inhabit human bodies.”

The Atlantic has a picture of the print version of the apology.

iMediaEthics has written to the Sun‘s ombudsman asking for more information about the Scientology lawyers’ letter and will update with any response.

Hat Tip: Dan Gillmor