The O’Hare Airport Disc

On November 7, 2006, multiple United Airlines employees at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport witnessed something that shouldn’t exist. A metallic disc hovered over Gate C17, then shot straight up, leaving a perfect hole in the overcast sky.

The Setting

O’Hare Airport is the world’s busiest airport with the highest security measures and a professional workforce. With thousands of eyes watching at any given time, it’s perhaps the most unlikely venue for a hoax.

The Time

The incident occurred around 4:15 PM on November 7, 2006. Conditions were overcast with a cloud ceiling at 1,900 feet, but visibility was good below the clouds, allowing for clear daylight observation.

The Witnesses

Aviation professionals witnessed the event, including United Airlines pilots, mechanics, ramp workers, and gate agents. All were trained observers with extensive experience in identifying aircraft and atmospheric phenomena.

The Object

They described a disc-shaped object that was dark grey metallic in appearance, approximately 6 to 24 feet in diameter. It was completely silent and hovered perfectly still in the air.

Location

The object was positioned directly above Gate C17 in Concourse C of the United terminal. This prime location meant hundreds of people could potentially have been watching the event unfold.

Duration

The object hovered for several minutes, remaining completely stationary with no visible means of support. Its ability to defy physics was observed by multiple witnesses simultaneously.

The Departure

When the object left, it accelerated instantly and shot straight up through the cloud layer at incredible speed. Remarkably, there was no sonic boom despite the apparent velocity.

The Cloud Hole

The most remarkable evidence was the perfect circular hole punched through the overcast where the object passed. The hole remained visible for several minutes and was confirmed by multiple witnesses.

Physical Implications

The hole in the clouds suggested this was a physical object rather than an optical illusion. It implied either tremendous energy release or an unknown propulsion system, representing real atmospheric interaction that couldn’t be attributed to hallucination.

Initial FAA Response

When asked about the incident, the FAA initially denied receiving any reports, claimed they had no radar contact, and maintained that nothing had happened. They declined to investigate, offering only standard denial.

Chicago Tribune Investigation

A Freedom of Information Act request revealed that reports did exist. The FAA had received calls from United employees and pilots, making their initial denial demonstrably false.

United Airlines Response

The company was initially silent about the incident but later confirmed that reports had been received and that employees did call in about seeing something. However, no explanation was offered.

One Mechanic’s Account

An unnamed witness with a long aviation career stated he had never seen anything like it. He was absolutely certain that what he observed was not a conventional aircraft or any natural phenomenon.

No Official Investigation

Despite the evidence from multiple credible witnesses, the FAA declined to investigate, United didn’t pursue the matter, the Air Force showed no interest, and the case was dropped. Witnesses expressed frustration at the lack of official response.

Most Read Story

The Chicago Tribune article about the incident crashed their website and became their most viewed story ever. It received international pickup and generated years of public interest and fascination.

Significance

The O’Hare case is significant for involving aviation professionals at a major airport, providing a physical evidence type in the cloud hole, exposing official denial, and having that denial confirmed through FOIA requests.

Legacy

The O’Hare incident showed that even highly credible witnesses at major facilities face official denial and lack of investigation. The case remains completely unexplained.