Brazil’s Official UFO Night

On May 19, 1986, the Brazilian Air Force scrambled jets to intercept multiple UFOs tracked on radar across several states. In an unprecedented move, the Air Force held a press conference the next day acknowledging the encounters.

The Night

May 19, 1986:

• Multiple radar contacts
• São Paulo area
• Extended over hours
• Multiple states
• Mass observation

Radar Tracking

Air Force detected:

• 21 unknown objects
• Military radar
• Multiple installations
• Tracked for hours
• Official records

Fighter Scramble

Brazilian Air Force:

• Mirage jets launched
• F-5 fighters deployed
• Multiple intercepts attempted
• Objects evaded
• Cat and mouse

The Pilots

Air Force officers:

• Captain Kleber Caldas
• Lieutenant Brisola
• Multiple aircrews
• Direct observation
• Official reports

Object Behavior

What pilots encountered:

• Objects on radar
• Visual confirmation
• Outmaneuvered jets
• Changed direction instantly
• Impossible performance

Ground Witnesses

Hundreds saw:

• Lights in sky
• Multiple objects
• Moving erratically
• Over populated areas
• Mass sighting

Radar Performance

Objects demonstrated:

• Speeds impossible
• Direction changes
• Radar invisible at times
• Reappearing
• Advanced technology

The Press Conference

May 23, 1986:

• Air Minister Octávio Moreira Lima
• Acknowledged events
• Released information
• Historic transparency
• Unprecedented

Official Statement

Minister stated:

• “We don’t know what they were”
• Not denying
• Acknowledging mystery
• Scientific study needed
• Remarkable honesty

Multiple States

Coverage area:

• São Paulo
• Rio de Janeiro
• Minas Gerais
• Goiás
• Widespread

Documentation

Military records:

• Radar recordings
• Pilot reports
• Tower communications
• Official files
• Later released

International Reaction

Worldwide attention:

• Major news story
• Government transparency rare
• Model response
• Studied by researchers
• Historic case

Significance

Mass UFO event with military engagement, radar tracking, and unprecedented government acknowledgment and transparency.

Legacy

The Brazilian Night of UFOs stands as a model of government response—military engagement documented and openly discussed, rather than denied.