Official Night of UFOs - Brazil

May 19, 1986, became known as the “Official Night of UFOs” in Brazil. In an unprecedented event, the Brazilian Air Force tracked over 20 unknown objects on radar, scrambled fighter jets to intercept, and then - remarkably - held a public press conference acknowledging the encounters. The Air Minister’s candid admission that the objects were unexplained made this case unique in military UFO history.

May 19, 1986

The night began with routine radar operations but quickly became extraordinary:

Initial Detection: At approximately 9:00 PM, air traffic control radar at the São Paulo airport detected multiple unknown targets.

Multiple Returns: Over the following hours, radar tracked between 13 and 21 distinct objects.

Wide Area: The objects were detected across a vast area, from São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro.

Unusual Behavior: The objects displayed flight characteristics unlike any known aircraft.

The Objects

Radar operators documented remarkable performance:

Speed: Objects were tracked moving at speeds up to 11,000 mph (Mach 15), then slowing to hover.

Altitude: They operated from sea level to over 30,000 feet.

Acceleration: Objects demonstrated instantaneous acceleration and deceleration.

Formations: Some objects moved in apparent coordination.

Military Response

The Brazilian Air Force scrambled multiple interceptors:

First Wave: Three F-5E fighters were launched from Santa Cruz Air Base.

Second Wave: Three Mirage III fighters were scrambled from Anápolis.

Pursuit: At least six military jets attempted to intercept the objects over several hours.

The Intercepts

The jet encounters were extraordinary:

Captain Armindo Souza Viriato de Freitas (Mirage): Tracked an object on radar that disappeared when he approached, only to reappear behind him.

Captain Marcio Brito Jordan (F-5E): Pursued an object that easily outran his supersonic aircraft.

Visual Contacts: Several pilots reported visual contact in addition to radar tracking.

Fuel Exhaustion: Pilots eventually had to return to base after depleting fuel in futile pursuit.

The objects seemed aware of the interceptors and evaded them at will.

The Press Conference

What made this case unique was the official response:

Air Minister Statement: Brazilian Air Minister Brigadier General Octávio Júlio Moreira Lima held a press conference.

Acknowledgment: He confirmed the incidents and stated: “We have no explanation for what happened.”

Transparency: Rather than deny or debunk, the Air Force openly admitted the objects were unidentified.

Pilot Statements: Several pilots spoke to the media about their experiences.

This level of official candor was unprecedented.

The Radar Evidence

The radar tracking provided compelling evidence:

Multiple Systems: Both civilian air traffic control and military radar tracked the objects.

Consistent Returns: Different radar systems showed the same targets.

Recorded Data: Radar tapes documented the objects’ performance.

Operator Testimony: Experienced radar operators confirmed the unusual nature of the returns.

Key Witnesses

Numerous credible witnesses participated:

Fighter Pilots: Experienced military aviators who pursued the objects.

Radar Operators: Trained specialists who tracked the objects.

Air Traffic Controllers: Professional observers who detected the initial contacts.

Air Force Command: High-ranking officers who monitored the situation.

Pilot Testimonies

The pilots were candid about their experiences:

Pursuit Failure: They acknowledged being unable to intercept the objects despite supersonic speeds.

Radar Lock: Some acquired radar locks that were broken when objects accelerated away.

Instrument Readings: Aircraft instruments confirmed the objects’ impossible performance.

Psychological Impact: Some pilots described the experience as unnerving.

The Official Report

A detailed report was compiled:

Documentation: All radar data, pilot reports, and communications were recorded.

Analysis: Military analysts attempted to explain the events.

Conclusion: The report concluded the objects were unexplained.

Classification: The report was initially classified, later released.

International Attention

The case attracted worldwide notice:

Media Coverage: International press covered the Air Minister’s unprecedented press conference.

UFO Research: The case became a cornerstone of UFO research.

Government Transparency Model: Some advocated for other governments to follow Brazil’s example.

Explanations Attempted

Various theories were proposed:

Weather Phenomena: Unusual atmospheric conditions. However, multiple pilots had visual contact.

Equipment Malfunction: Radar glitches. Multiple independent systems showed the same targets.

Foreign Aircraft: Soviet or American spy planes. No nation has claimed aircraft capable of the observed speeds.

Unknown Technology: Something beyond current human capability.

Legacy

The “Official Night of UFOs” remains significant:

• Over 20 objects tracked on military radar
• Multiple fighter jets scrambled in pursuit
• Objects demonstrated speeds up to 11,000 mph
• Official government press conference acknowledging the events
• No conventional explanation has been provided

Brazil’s candor in 1986 remains a model for government transparency on UFO matters.

Sources

• Brazilian Air Force official reports
• Air Minister Brigadeiro Octávio Moreira Lima press conference
• Pilot testimonies
• Radar operator accounts
• 1986 Brazil UFO night - Wikipedia