The Tehran F-4 Jet Chase

On September 19, 1976, Iranian Air Force jets scrambled to intercept a UFO over Tehran. What followed - electronic failures, weapons system malfunctions, and pursuit of an object demonstrating impossible capabilities - became one of the most documented military UFO encounters in history.

The Reports Begin

September 19, 1976:

• Around midnight
• Citizens called
• Imperial Iranian Air Force
• Bright object reported
• Over Tehran

General Yousefi

Deputy Commander:

• Received multiple calls
• Looked for himself
• Saw bright object
• Ordered scramble
• Two F-4 Phantoms

First F-4

Launched around 1:30 AM:

• Approached object
• At 25 nautical miles
• All systems failed
• Communications dead
• Instruments blanked

Pilot Response

First pilot:

• Turned away
• Systems restored
• Immediately
• Clear pattern
• Technology demonstrated

Second F-4

Lieutenant Parviz Jafari:

• Better approach
• Radar contact made
• Closed on object
• Size of 707 on radar
• Significant return

The Chase

Jafari pursued:

• Object accelerated
• He followed
• Could not close
• Cat and mouse
• Superior performance

The Smaller Object

Then suddenly:

• Object ejected something
• Came toward jet
• Very bright
• Threatening approach
• Defensive action needed

Weapons Failure

Jafari tried:

• To fire missile
• AIM-9 selected
• System went dead
• All weapons offline
• Communications too

Evasive Maneuver

The pilot:

• Dove in negative G
• Object followed
• Then returned
• To parent craft
• Rejoined

Third Object

Another emission:

• From main UFO
• Descended toward ground
• Lit up area below
• Then extinguished
• Landing?

Investigation

Next morning:

• Helicopters searched
• Landing area
• Beeping sounds detected
• Strange radiation
• Near lake

The Documentation

This case features:

• Iranian AF reports
• DIA evaluation
• State Department cables
• Multiple sources
• Excellent records

DIA Assessment

Defense Intelligence Agency:

• Called case “classic”
• Met all criteria
• Of genuine unknown
• High credibility
• Model case

Colonel Mooy

US Air Attaché:

• Documented case
• Interviewed pilots
• Sent to Washington
• Official channels
• Took seriously

Iranian Position

Government:

• Documented thoroughly
• No explanation found
• Multiple witnesses
• Official interest
• Case unexplained

Significance

Tehran significant for:

• Military documentation
• Electronic failures
• Weapons malfunction
• DIA evaluation
• International importance

Legacy

The Tehran UFO incident remains among the best-documented military encounters. Official government documents, detailed pilot testimony, and the DIA’s “classic case” evaluation make it difficult to dismiss.