The Army Helicopter UFO Encounter

The Coyne incident of 1973 is considered among the most credible military UFO encounters. Captain Lawrence Coyne and his crew experienced a near-collision with an unknown object that caused their helicopter to ascend while the controls were set to descend.

The Crew

Captain Lawrence Coyne commanded a UH-1 Huey helicopter with three crew members, flying an Army Reserve mission from Columbus to Cleveland, Ohio. The crew was experienced military personnel with no history of unusual reports.

The Approach

At approximately 11:00 PM, crew chief Sergeant Robert Yanacsek noticed a red light on the eastern horizon. The light approached at remarkable speed, estimated at over 600 knots. Captain Coyne began an emergency descent to avoid collision.

The Object

As the light closed, it resolved into a cigar-shaped gray metallic object. It stopped directly in front of the helicopter and hovered. A green light from the object bathed the helicopter. The encounter lasted approximately ten seconds before the object accelerated away.

The Anomaly

During the hover, Coyne had the collective pushed fully down, commanding descent. Yet the altimeter showed the helicopter climbing at 1,000 feet per minute. They had risen from 1,700 feet to 3,500 feet. When the object departed, normal control returned. This ascent was mechanically impossible.

The Ground Witnesses

A family driving near Mansfield observed both the helicopter and the glowing object. Their independent account corroborated the crew’s description, including the distinctive green light.

Assessment

The Coyne incident combines military witness credibility, ground witness corroboration, and an impossible physical effect. The unexplained ascent represents an interaction with the helicopter that defies conventional physics.