Portuguese Air Force UFO
The crew and passengers of a TAP airliner observed a formation of four bright objects while flying over the Azores. The sighting lasted 45 minutes and was reported to Portuguese authorities.
The Azores Encounter
On September 4, 1957, a TAP Portugal airliner flying between Flores Island and Terceira observed four bright UFOs that paced the aircraft for 45 minutes. The extended sighting was reported officially to Portuguese aviation authorities.
The Flight
TAP airliner:
- Azores route
- Flores to Terceira
- September 4, 1957
- Night flight
- Clear conditions
The Witnesses
Multiple observers:
- Captain José Lemos Ferreira
- Co-pilot
- Crew members
- Passengers
- 20+ witnesses
The Objects
What they saw:
- Four bright lights
- In formation
- Paralleled aircraft
- Changed positions
- Coordinated movement
The Duration
Remarkable length:
- 45 minutes
- Extended observation
- Multiple maneuvers
- Formation changes
- Unhurried
Flight Characteristics
Objects demonstrated:
- Constant velocity
- Formation flying
- Altitude changes
- Coordination
- Intelligent control
Official Report
Captain Ferreira:
- Filed formal report
- Portuguese Air Force
- Detailed account
- Taken seriously
- Investigated
Military Response
Portuguese Air Force:
- Received report
- Documented incident
- No explanation found
- Remains unknown
- File exists
The Formation
Object arrangement:
- Changed during sighting
- Precise movements
- Not random
- Deliberate
- Coordinated
Passenger Corroboration
Civilian witnesses:
- Many passengers saw
- Independent confirmation
- Consistent descriptions
- Not crew imagination
- Mass observation
No Conventional Explanation
Ruled out:
- Not aircraft
- Not satellites
- Not natural phenomena
- Speed inconsistent
- Unknown
Significance
Extended multi-witness airline encounter with official documentation by Portuguese authorities.
Legacy
The Azores case demonstrates that UFO encounters are international, with European military and aviation authorities documenting unexplained incidents.