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Frederick Valentich Disappearance

A 20-year-old pilot vanished after reporting a UFO. His last transmission: 'It is not an aircraft.' His final words were interrupted by metallic scraping. Neither he nor his plane were ever found.

October 21, 1978
Bass Strait, Australia
1+ witnesses

The Frederick Valentich Disappearance

A young pilot’s final radio transmission described an object that “is not an aircraft.” Then he vanished—forever.

The Flight

On October 21, 1978, Frederick Valentich (20) departed Moorabbin Airport in a Cessna 182:

  • Destination: King Island
  • Flight time: approximately 90 minutes
  • He was an experienced pilot with 150+ flying hours
  • Weather: clear with good visibility

The Transmission

At 7:06 PM, Valentich radioed Melbourne Flight Service:

Valentich: “Is there any known traffic below five thousand?” Melbourne: “No known traffic.” Valentich: “Seems to be a large aircraft below five thousand.” Melbourne: “What type of aircraft is it?” Valentich: “I cannot affirm. It is four bright… it seems to me like landing lights.”

The exchange continued:

Valentich: “The aircraft has just passed over me… at least a thousand feet above.” Melbourne: “Is it a large aircraft?” Valentich: “Unknown due to the speed it’s traveling… It is not an aircraft.”

The Final Words

The transmission became increasingly disturbing:

Valentich: “It is hovering and it’s not an aircraft.” Melbourne: “What is your actual level?” Valentich: “My intentions are to go to King Island… That strange aircraft is hovering on top of me again… It is hovering and it’s not an aircraft.”

Then:

Valentich: “[unintelligible]… Melbourne…”

Followed by 17 seconds of metallic scraping sounds.

Then silence.

  • Massive air and sea search launched
  • Lasted four days
  • Neither Valentich nor his aircraft were ever found
  • No debris, no oil slick, nothing
  • Officially: “unexplained”

The Context

That night:

  • Multiple UFO reports in the area
  • Witnesses saw a green light over Bass Strait
  • A farmer photographed an unexplained object
  • A witness reported seeing a plane with a light above it

Theories

Official

  • Disorientation, flew into water
  • Suicide (no evidence)
  • Staged disappearance (never surfaced)

UFO

  • Abducted by the craft
  • Collision with unknown object
  • Taken by whatever he was observing

Problems

  • Why no wreckage?
  • What made the metallic sounds?
  • What did ground witnesses see?

Frederick Valentich’s last words were “it is not an aircraft”—and he was never seen again.

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