The Shag Harbour UFO Incident

On the night of October 4, 1967, multiple witnesses observed an object crash into the waters near Shag Harbour, Nova Scotia. The incident prompted a search by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canadian Coast Guard, and the Canadian Forces, but nothing was recovered. The case remains one of the few UFO incidents officially investigated by a government with the conclusion “unresolved.”

The Sighting

At approximately 11:20 PM, residents of Shag Harbour and the surrounding area observed a bright object in the sky. The object, described as approximately 60 feet in diameter with four orange lights, descended at a steep angle and crashed into the waters of the Sound.

Multiple independent witnesses observed the impact. Some initially believed they were witnessing a plane crash and called the RCMP.

Initial Response

RCMP officers arrived on scene and observed an object floating on the water, producing a yellow light and what appeared to be a pale yellow foam on the surface. Local fishermen launched boats to investigate what they assumed was an aircraft in distress.

When the boats reached the area, the object had submerged. A search found only dense yellow foam floating on the water. No survivors, no wreckage, and no aircraft parts were recovered.

Official Investigation

The Canadian Forces launched a search operation. Divers from the Navy examined the sea floor but found nothing. The search was eventually called off.

The incident was officially reported as a “UFO Report” in government documents—one of the few times a government has applied that designation to a specific event. The Department of National Defence concluded that “no known aircraft” had been involved and that the incident remained unexplained.

Subsequent Investigation

Researchers investigating decades later uncovered reports suggesting that military activity in the area had continued longer than initially disclosed. Some witnesses reported seeing divers and naval vessels in the area for days after the official search ended.

Theories have included the possibility that an object was recovered covertly, that the incident involved a secret military aircraft, or that something remains on the sea floor awaiting discovery.

Assessment

The Shag Harbour incident is notable for its multiple credible witnesses, its official government investigation, and its continued status as unexplained. Unlike many UFO cases that rely on individual testimony, Shag Harbour involved independent witnesses who observed the same event, initial responders who saw something in the water, and official documentation confirming an unexplained occurrence.

Whatever fell into those waters in 1967, it has never been identified. The sea keeps its secrets, and Shag Harbour remains Canada’s most significant UFO incident.