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Frederick Valentich Disappearance
A pilot reported a large UFO hovering above his aircraft. His last words: 'It is not an aircraft.' Then silence and static. Neither he nor his plane were ever found. The Australian government never explained it.
October 21, 1978
Bass Strait, Australia
1+ witnesses
The disappearance of Frederick Valentich remains one of Australia’s most enduring UFO mysteries.
The Flight
On October 21, 1978:
According to documented accounts:
- Frederick Valentich, age 20
- Flying Cessna 182L
- Over Bass Strait
- Training flight to King Island
The Radio Transmission
Valentich reported to Melbourne:
- Unknown aircraft following him
- Four bright lights
- “It is not an aircraft”
- Object orbiting him
- Engine rough idling
- Then 17 seconds of metallic scraping
- Transmission ends
The Last Words
His final communication:
- “It is hovering and it’s not an aircraft”
- “Melbourne…”
- Then static and scraping sounds
- Transmission cut
- Never heard from again
The Search
Despite extensive search:
- No wreckage found
- No body found
- No oil slicks
- No debris
- Complete disappearance
Theories
Proposed explanations:
- UFO abduction
- Disorientation (flying upside down)
- Suicide
- Faked disappearance
- Crashed into ocean
The UFO Connection
That night:
- Multiple UFO reports in area
- Before and after incident
- Strange lights seen
- Over Bass Strait
- Never explained