Spain’s Aviation Emergency

On November 11, 1979, a TAE commercial flight with 109 passengers was forced into an emergency landing at Valencia’s Manises Airport after a massive UFO nearly collided with the aircraft. Spanish Air Force jets scrambled, leading to one of aviation’s most dramatic UFO encounters.

The Flight

TAE Flight JK-297:

• Salzburg to Tenerife
• 109 passengers
• November 11, 1979
• Night flight
• Mediterranean route

The Captain

Francisco Lerdo de Tejada:

• Experienced pilot
• TAE captain
• Professional witness
• Filed official report
• Credible testimony

The Encounter

What happened:

• Bright red lights appeared
• Approached aircraft
• Within 150 feet
• Collision imminent
• Emergency declared

The Size

Captain’s estimate:

• Enormous object
• Much larger than aircraft
• Multiple lights
• Structured craft
• Massive scale

Emergency Landing

Critical decision:

• Diverted to Valencia
• Manises Airport
• Emergency procedures
• Passengers terrified
• Safe landing

Air Force Response

Military scramble:

• Mirage F-1 jet
• Captain Fernando Cámara
• Intercept ordered
• Valencia AFB
• Armed aircraft

The Chase

Air Force pursuit:

• Pilot acquired target
• Radar contact
• Visual confirmation
• Chase attempted
• Object evaded

The Performance

UFO demonstrated:

• Impossible acceleration
• Sharp turns
• Radar jamming?
• Outran jet
• Superior technology

Second Encounter

Same night:

• Object returned
• Near commercial route
• Multiple radar contacts
• Extended activity
• Busy night

Official Investigation

Spanish government:

• Air Force report filed
• Considered genuine
• No conventional explanation
• Officially unknown
• Historic case

Declassified Files

Later released:

• Full documentation
• Pilot testimony
• Radar records
• Military response
• Transparency

Media Coverage

Spanish press:

• Major story
• National attention
• International interest
• Documented extensively
• Historic event

The Witnesses

109 passengers:

• Civilian witnesses
• Saw the lights
• Experienced emergency
• Consistent accounts
• Mass observation

Significance

Commercial aviation emergency caused by UFO encounter with military response and official documentation.

Legacy

The Manises incident demonstrates how UFOs can create genuine aviation emergencies—a commercial flight diverted, military jets scrambled, and no conventional explanation found.