Coyne Helicopter Encounter
An Army Reserve helicopter crew encountered a gray metallic object that stopped their collision course and pulled their aircraft upward. Captain Coyne's controls were overridden by an unknown force.
The Coyne Helicopter Case
On October 18, 1973, an Army Reserve UH-1H helicopter crew led by Captain Lawrence Coyne encountered a gray metallic object that stopped on collision course, bathed them in green light, and mysteriously pulled their helicopter upward.
The Crew
Army Reserve:
- Captain Lawrence Coyne (pilot)
- Lieutenant Arrigo Jezzi (copilot)
- Sergeant John Healey
- Specialist Robert Yanacsek
- Four credible witnesses
The Flight
October 18, 1973:
- Night flight
- Columbus to Cleveland
- Routine mission
- Clear conditions
- 2,500 feet altitude
First Sighting
Yanacsek spotted:
- Red light
- Eastern horizon
- Appeared stationary
- Then moved toward them
- Closing fast
The Object
What approached:
- Gray metallic structure
- Cigar-shaped
- 60 feet long
- Red light at nose
- Green light underneath
The Emergency
Coyne’s response:
- Radioed Mansfield
- Put helicopter in dive
- Collision imminent
- Braced for impact
- Radios failed
The Encounter
What happened:
- Object stopped above them
- Green light filled cockpit
- Held position
- Then accelerated away
- Silence
The Anomaly
Instruments showed:
- Collective still down
- Yet helicopter rising
- Climbing to 3,500 feet
- Coyne not controlling
- Unexplained ascent
Ground Witnesses
Family in car:
- Saw helicopter
- Saw object
- Green light observed
- Corroborating testimony
- Independent witnesses
Radio Failure
During encounter:
- Radios dead
- Tried multiple frequencies
- No transmission possible
- After object left
- Radios worked
Official Investigation
Army response:
- Crew filed report
- Investigated officially
- No explanation found
- Remains unknown
- Historic case
Credibility Factors
Why compelling:
- Military crew
- Multiple witnesses
- Ground corroboration
- Instrument anomalies
- Official documentation
Significance
Multiple military witnesses, physical effects on aircraft, ground corroboration—among the best-documented aviation cases.
Legacy
The Coyne helicopter incident stands as a landmark case with no conventional explanation ever found.