The Mexican Air Force UFO Encounter

On March 5, 2004, a Mexican Air Force Merlin C26/A surveillance aircraft encountered and filmed eleven unidentified objects while on a drug interdiction patrol over Campeche state. The Mexican government took the unprecedented step of releasing the military footage publicly.

The Encounter

The aircraft was conducting routine surveillance using FLIR (forward-looking infrared) cameras when crew members detected unusual targets. The objects appeared on radar and infrared but were not visible to the naked eye.

The objects appeared to surround the aircraft, with some seeming to follow it. At one point, the footage shows the objects clustering together and then separating.

The Footage

The video, captured by the aircraft’s infrared camera, shows bright spots moving in formation. The objects appear and disappear from detection, seemingly defying conventional aircraft behavior.

Crew members can be heard on the audio expressing astonishment at the objects’ movements.

Government Response

In an unusual move, the Mexican Department of Defense authorized the public release of the footage through journalist Jaime Maussan. Defense Secretary General Ricardo Vega García confirmed the video’s authenticity.

This official release was extraordinary—military institutions rarely acknowledge or publicize UFO encounters.

Investigation

Secretary of Defense officials stated they had no explanation for the objects. The crew was debriefed, and the footage was analyzed, but no conventional explanation was found.

Alternative Theories

Ball Lightning: Some suggested atmospheric electrical phenomena, though this doesn’t explain the objects’ coordinated movements.

Oil Platform Flares: Skeptics proposed the objects were flames from offshore oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, visible on infrared. However, the objects’ movements appear inconsistent with stationary flares.

Classified Aircraft: Given the sensitive border area, some speculated about experimental craft, though no evidence supports this.

Significance

The Mexican Air Force encounter is notable for:

• Military personnel as witnesses
• Official government release of footage
• Radar and infrared detection
• Extended duration of the encounter

Legacy

The case demonstrated that military encounters with UFOs continue to occur and that some governments are willing to acknowledge them publicly. The footage remains unexplained and is frequently cited in discussions of government UFO transparency.