The Westall UFO Encounter
Over 200 students and teachers witnessed a UFO land near their school in one of Australia's biggest mass sightings.
The Westall UFO Encounter
On April 6, 1966, over 200 students and staff at Westall High School in Melbourne witnessed an unidentified flying object descend into a paddock near the school. The mass sighting, with its large number of witnesses, remains one of Australia’s most significant UFO cases.
The Sighting
At approximately 11 AM, students noticed a gray disc-shaped object in the sky. The object descended into an area known as the Grange, a paddock adjacent to the school. Multiple witnesses saw it land or hover just above the ground.
The Chase
The object reportedly ascended and was pursued by five small aircraft that had appeared. Witnesses describe the UFO easily outmaneuvering the planes before departing at high speed. The aircraft were never identified.
The Response
After the sighting, students who went to investigate found flattened grass in a circle. Within hours, military personnel reportedly arrived at the site. The school principal instructed students not to discuss what they had seen.
Suppression
Witnesses later recalled being visited by men in suits who warned them to stay quiet. The media coverage was minimal despite the number of witnesses. Many students felt their experience was deliberately suppressed.
Reunion
In 2006, a documentary brought witnesses together. Many told their stories publicly for the first time. Despite variations in details, witnesses remained adamant that they had seen something truly unusual that day.
Assessment
The Westall incident’s strength lies in its witness numbers. Over 200 people, mostly children at the time, witnessed the event. Their consistent testimony over five decades makes this one of the most compelling mass UFO sightings on record.