The Belgian UFO Wave

From November 1989 through April 1990, Belgium experienced one of the most thoroughly documented UFO waves in history. Thousands of witnesses, including police officers and military personnel, reported large triangular craft performing impossible maneuvers. The Belgian Air Force took the unprecedented step of releasing radar data and conducting an official investigation.

Overview

The wave began on November 29, 1989, when two police officers reported a large triangular craft with bright lights. Over the following months, over 13,500 reports were filed with Belgian authorities.

Typical Descriptions

Witnesses consistently described:

• Large triangular craft
• Three bright lights at each corner
• A central pulsing red light
• Massive size (often compared to a football field)
• Silent or very quiet operation
• Hovering capability
• Sudden acceleration to extreme speeds

Police Witnesses

Numerous Belgian gendarmes (police) observed the objects:

• Multiple officers tracked the same object
• Reports were filed officially
• Officers were considered highly credible
• Observations were coordinated with radar tracking

The March 30-31, 1990 Incident

The most dramatic event occurred on March 30-31, 1990:

• Multiple witnesses reported triangular objects
• Belgian Air Force radar tracked unknown targets
• Two F-16 fighters were scrambled
• Pilots obtained radar locks on the objects
• The objects demonstrated impossible accelerations

Radar Data

The Belgian Air Force released radar data showing:

• Objects accelerating from 150 to over 1,000 mph almost instantly
• Altitude changes of several thousand feet in seconds
• Maneuvers exceeding 40Gs (far beyond human tolerance)
• Objects evading pursuing F-16s

Official Investigation

The Belgian Air Force conducted an official investigation:

• Worked openly with civilian UFO researchers (SOBEPS)
• Released radar data publicly
• Acknowledged the phenomenon was unexplained
• General Wilfried De Brouwer briefed the press

General De Brouwer’s Statement

Belgian Air Force General Wilfried De Brouwer stated publicly:

• The objects were real
• They demonstrated capabilities beyond known technology
• The Air Force had no explanation
• The phenomenon deserved serious study

The Petit-Rechain Photograph

A famous photograph showing a triangular craft was taken in Petit-Rechain:

• Became iconic image of the wave
• Later admitted to be a hoax by its creator
• The hoax doesn’t affect the thousands of other observations

Scientific Interest

Scientists took the wave seriously:

• SOBEPS conducted systematic investigation
• Multiple academic papers were published
• The case became a model for UFO investigation
• International researchers studied the evidence

Possible Explanations

Various explanations were proposed:

• Secret military aircraft (F-117, B-2)
• Mass hysteria
• Conventional aircraft misidentified
• None adequately explained all evidence

Significance

The Belgian wave is significant for:

• Unprecedented number of witnesses (13,500+)
• Official military involvement and transparency
• Radar confirmation of impossible maneuvers
• High credibility of many witnesses
• International attention and investigation

Legacy

The Belgian UFO wave remains the gold standard for documented mass sightings:

• Military transparency unprecedented before or since
• Evidence of structured craft with advanced capabilities
• Demonstration that UFOs can be studied scientifically
• Model for government handling of UFO reports