The Chicago O’Hare Airport UFO Sighting

On November 7, 2006, multiple United Airlines employees observed a metallic, disc-shaped object hovering over Gate C17 at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. The object shot straight up through the overcast sky, reportedly punching a visible hole in the cloud layer.

The Sighting

At approximately 4:15 PM, United Airlines personnel noticed an object hovering below the cloud layer located above Gate C17. It remained stationary for several minutes before departing straight up into the sky.

The Object

Witnesses described a dark grey metallic disc rotating silently, approximately 6 to 24 feet in diameter. The object had no visible lights and appeared solid and structured.

The Departure

When it left, the object shot straight up at high speed and passed through the cloud layer. Most remarkably, it left a visible hole in the clouds that slowly closed afterward. Multiple witnesses saw this dramatic effect.

The Witnesses

Those who observed the phenomenon included United Airlines pilots, mechanics on the tarmac, gate agents, and supervisory personnel. At least 12 named witnesses came forward to report what they had seen.

Initial Response

After the sighting, witnesses discussed what they saw and United management was notified. Some employees filed reports and the FAA was contacted, though initial denials came from authorities.

FAA Response

The FAA initially denied receiving reports, claimed no radar anomalies, and said nothing was tracked. However, later FOIA requests revealed that reports did exist. Despite this, no investigation was conducted.

Chicago Tribune Investigation

Reporter Jon Hilkevitch broke the story nationally, interviewed multiple witnesses, and documented the FAA stonewalling. The story received global attention with witnesses speaking on the record.

United Airlines Response

The airline initially denied knowledge of the incident but later acknowledged that reports had been received. They did not dispute the witnesses’ accounts but declined further comment. Some employees feared repercussions for speaking publicly.

The Cloud Hole

The most remarkable aspect of the sighting was that the object punched through the overcast, leaving a visible hole that remained briefly before slowly closing after the object’s departure. This physical effect was witnessed by multiple people and suggests the object had a real impact on the environment.

Significance

The O’Hare sighting is significant for occurring at a major international airport, involving multiple aviation professionals as witnesses, producing a physical effect on the clouds, exposing an FAA cover-up, and receiving thorough media investigation.

Legacy

The O’Hare UFO sighting became one of the most widely reported UFO events of the 2000s. The credibility of the witnesses and the FAA’s denial despite documented reports highlighted ongoing official reluctance to address the UFO phenomenon.