The Coyne Helicopter Incident

On October 18, 1973, a U.S. Army Reserve helicopter was nearly struck by an unidentified object near Mansfield, Ohio. The crew’s account, corroborated by ground witnesses and their own flight instruments, represents one of the most credible UFO encounters involving military personnel.

The Flight

Captain Lawrence Coyne commanded a UH-1 Huey helicopter with three crew members, returning to Cleveland after a training flight. At approximately 11 PM, near the town of Mansfield, a crew member noticed a red light approaching from the east.

The Encounter

The light approached at high speed on a collision course. Coyne put the helicopter into a dive to avoid impact. The object stopped directly above them, bathing the cockpit in green light. Coyne described it as a cigar-shaped craft about sixty feet long with a dome on top.

The Anomaly

While the object hovered above them, the helicopter began climbing despite Coyne’s controls being set for descent. The aircraft rose from 1,700 feet to 3,500 feet against the pilot’s input. When the object departed at high speed toward the northwest, Coyne regained control.

Ground Witnesses

A family driving in the area independently reported seeing a red and green light above a helicopter. They observed the helicopter being pulled upward by something they could not clearly see. Their account matched the crew’s timeline and location.

Investigation

The case was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board and researchers from the Center for UFO Studies. No conventional explanation for the object or the helicopter’s unexplained climb was determined.

Assessment

The Coyne incident is considered one of the most credible UFO cases due to the witnesses’ military training, the documented flight path, and independent ground corroboration. The anomalous behavior of the helicopter’s altitude adds a physical dimension that defies easy explanation.