The Mexican Air Force Infrared UFOs

On March 5, 2004, a Mexican Air Force surveillance aircraft detected and filmed up to 11 unidentified objects using infrared equipment. The Mexican military officially released the footage—a rare instance of a government publicly acknowledging and sharing UFO evidence.

The Mission

A Mexican Air Force C-26A aircraft:

• Was conducting drug interdiction surveillance
• Flew at approximately 11,500 feet
• Was equipped with advanced infrared cameras
• Had an eight-person crew

The Detection

The crew observed:

• Objects that appeared on infrared but were not visible to the naked eye
• Initially, three objects were detected
• The number grew to 11 objects surrounding the aircraft
• Objects displayed intelligent maneuvering

The Footage

The infrared video shows:

• Multiple bright objects against the sky
• Objects moving in formation
• Apparent coordination between objects
• Objects that seemed to follow the aircraft

Crew Observations

The crew reported:

• Objects approached and surrounded them
• Unable to shake the objects through maneuvering
• Objects accelerated rapidly
• Eventually departed at high speed

Official Release

Mexico’s Secretary of National Defense:

• Authorized release of the footage
• General Clemente Vega García acknowledged the incident
• Released the video to journalist Jaime Maussan
• The military stated they could not explain the objects

Analysis

Researchers analyzed the footage:

• Objects visible only in infrared
• Heat signatures suggested physical objects
• Movement patterns appeared controlled
• No known aircraft matched the characteristics

Skeptical Explanations

Various explanations were proposed:

• Distant oil platform flares
• Ball lightning
• Atmospheric phenomena
• Military explained it could have been distant flares

Oil Platform Theory

Some analysts noted:

• The region had offshore oil platforms
• Flares from platforms could appear as bright infrared sources
• Platform positions roughly matched object locations
• However, the objects’ movement complicated this explanation

Mexican UFO Culture

The release occurred in a receptive environment:

• Mexico had extensive UFO interest since 1991
• Jaime Maussan had a national platform
• The public was open to UFO discussions
• Military transparency was welcomed

Significance

The Mexican Air Force case is significant for:

• Official government release of UFO footage
• Military acknowledgment of unexplained objects
• Infrared documentation
• Crew of eight witnesses
• Rare military transparency

Legacy

The Mexican Air Force footage represented unprecedented official UFO disclosure. A government releasing military-obtained footage of unexplained objects set a standard that would not be matched until US Navy videos emerged years later.