Frederick Valentich Disappearance
A young pilot disappeared while reporting a UFO hovering over his aircraft. His final transmission described a large unknown object with four bright lights before radio contact was lost forever.
The Valentich Mystery
On October 21, 1978, 20-year-old pilot Frederick Valentich disappeared over Bass Strait, Australia while reporting a UFO hovering above his Cessna 182. His final, chilling transmissions to Melbourne air traffic control documented an encounter before radio contact was lost forever.
The Pilot
Frederick Valentich:
- 20 years old
- Australian
- Experienced pilot
- Class Four rating
- Flying since 1974
The Flight
October 21, 1978:
- Evening flight
- Melbourne to King Island
- Cessna 182
- Over Bass Strait
- Routine trip
First Contact
Around 7:06 PM:
- Valentich contacted Melbourne
- Reported traffic at 4,500 feet
- Four bright lights
- Large unknown aircraft
- Not aircraft
Final Words
Last transmission:
- “It is not an aircraft”
- Long metallic sound
- Then silence
- Contact lost
- 7:12 PM
The Search
Massive effort:
- Air and sea search
- Several days
- No aircraft found
- No wreckage
- No body
Significance
Valentich case significant for:
- Documented transmissions
- Witnessed UFO reports
- Complete disappearance
- Official mystery
- Audio evidence
Legacy
The Frederick Valentich disappearance remains Australia’s most famous aviation mystery. His recorded transmissions, describing an unknown object before vanishing, create one of the most haunting UFO-related cases in history.