The Cash-Landrum Incident

On the night of December 29, 1980, Betty Cash, Vickie Landrum, and Colby Landrum encountered a diamond-shaped UFO on a rural Texas road. The object emitted intense heat and light, and was soon joined by military helicopters. All three witnesses suffered severe health effects consistent with radiation exposure, making this one of the most physically consequential UFO encounters on record.

The Encounter

Betty Cash was driving on Farm Road 1485 near Huffman, Texas, with her friend Vickie Landrum and Vickie’s seven-year-old grandson Colby. At approximately 9:00 PM, they observed a bright light ahead, which resolved into a diamond-shaped object hovering over the road.

The object was enormous—roughly the size of a water tower—and brilliantly illuminated. Flames periodically shot from its underside. The heat was so intense that when Betty touched the car door handle, it burned her hand.

The women and child watched the object for several minutes. Colby was terrified. Vickie, a devout Christian, believed they were witnessing the end of the world.

Military Helicopters

As the object rose and moved away, the witnesses observed a large number of helicopters—they counted approximately 23—approaching and apparently escorting the craft. The helicopters were later identified as CH-47 Chinooks and other military aircraft.

The helicopters’ presence has been the subject of ongoing investigation. The military denied any operations in the area that night.

Radiation Injuries

Within hours of the encounter, all three witnesses developed symptoms consistent with radiation exposure. Betty Cash, who had been outside the car longest, was worst affected. She developed severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and skin burns. Within days, her hair began falling out.

Betty was hospitalized multiple times over the following weeks. She developed cancer, which she attributed to the exposure. Her health never fully recovered, and she died in 1998.

Vickie and Colby also suffered health effects, though less severe than Betty’s. Vickie developed eye problems and other ongoing health issues.

Legal Action

In 1981, the witnesses filed a $20 million lawsuit against the U.S. government, arguing that military aircraft had been involved and that the government was responsible for their injuries.

The government denied involvement and any knowledge of the incident. The case was dismissed in 1986 when a judge ruled that no evidence existed that the object was owned or operated by the government.

Assessment

The Cash-Landrum incident is remarkable for its physical evidence. The witnesses’ injuries were documented by physicians and were consistent with radiation exposure. The testimony about military helicopters was never explained.

Whatever Betty Cash, Vickie Landrum, and Colby Landrum encountered that night, it left them injured and changed. The object’s nature—secret military aircraft, extraterrestrial craft, or something else—remains unknown.