O'Hare Airport UFO
United Airlines employees watched a dark grey metallic disc hover over Gate C17 at O'Hare International Airport. After several minutes, it shot straight up through the clouds, leaving a visible hole. The FAA refused to investigate, calling it a 'weather phenomenon.'
The O’Hare sighting occurred at America’s busiest airport.
The Event
On November 7, 2006, at 4:15 PM, multiple United Airlines employees at Gate C17 witnessed an extraordinary event on the airline’s ramp. A disc-shaped object was observed hovering silently above the busy airport facility.
The Witnesses
The object was observed by at least 12 people including United Airlines pilots, mechanics, ramp workers, and management personnel. The diversity of professional witnesses lent credibility to the reports.
The Object
Witnesses described a dark grey metallic disc-shaped craft measuring between 6-24 feet in diameter. The object hovered silently below the cloud cover, clearly visible to ground personnel despite the busy airport environment.
The Departure
The object shot straight up at high speed, punching through the cloud layer and leaving a visible circular hole in the clouds. Multiple witnesses observed this distinctive hole, which slowly closed over several minutes after the object’s departure.
The Response
The FAA refused to investigate the incident, dismissing it as a “weather phenomenon.” No radar data was preserved, and United Airlines issued no official statement. Only through a FOIA request were the existence of internal reports revealed to the public.
The Coverage
The Chicago Tribune broke the story, which became their most-read article that year. National media coverage followed, with the FAA facing criticism for its dismissive response. Public interest in the incident remained high, making it one of the most compelling modern UFO cases due to its multiple credible witnesses and airport location.