Five Days Missing

On November 5, 1975, logger Travis Walton was struck by a beam of light from a hovering UFO in Arizona’s Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. He vanished for five days while his six terrified coworkers were suspected of murder—until Walton returned.

The Crew

Seven loggers:

• Travis Walton
• Mike Rogers (crew boss)
• Five other workers
• Returning from work
• Apache-Sitgreaves Forest

The Sighting

November 5, 1975:

• Evening, after work
• Driving home
• Saw bright light
• Through trees
• Investigated

The Object

They encountered:

• Hovering disc
• About 20 feet diameter
• Glowing
• Above clearing
• Humming sound

Walton’s Approach

Travis jumped out:

• Walked toward craft
• Despite warnings
• Got too close
• Beam of light struck him
• Threw him back

The Crew’s Reaction

Six witnesses:

• Saw Walton hit
• Terrified
• Fled in truck
• Initially without him
• Then returned

Walton Gone

When they returned:

• No trace of Walton
• No UFO
• Complete panic
• Reported to police
• Search began

Murder Investigation

Sheriff suspected:

• Foul play
• Crew questioned
• Polygraphs administered
• Crew passed
• But Walton still missing

Five Days Later

November 10, 1975:

• Walton called
• From phone booth
• Disoriented
• Dehydrated
• Returned

Walton’s Account

He remembered:

• Being aboard craft
• Strange beings
• Medical examination
• Human-looking entities
• Fragmented memories

The Polygraphs

All seven men:

• Took lie detector tests
• All passed
• Multiple times
• Over the years
• Consistently

The Book and Film

“Fire in the Sky”:

• Walton’s book
• 1993 film adaptation
• Wide audience
• Famous case
• Ongoing interest

Skeptical Examination

Critics suggest:

• Elaborate hoax
• Contract problems
• Financial motive
• But polygraphs passed
• Crew maintained story

The Crew Today

Decades later:

• All maintain account
• No deathbed confessions
• Consistent story
• Still credible
• Remarkable consistency

Significance

One of the most famous abduction cases with multiple witnesses and polygraph evidence supporting the account.

Legacy

The Travis Walton case remains significant for the multiple witnesses, passed polygraphs, and consistent testimony over nearly 50 years.