Lt. Col. Lawrence Coyne talks about a cigar-shaped UFO flying above his helicopter, October 18, 1973

On October 18, 1973, in the skies over Mansfield, Ohio, one of the most credible and well-documented events in modern UFO history took place. Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence Coyne, an experienced U.S. Army pilot, was commanding a Huey helicopter with three crew members aboard when they spotted a brilliant red light on the horizon. What began as a routine identification of another aircraft escalated within seconds into a series of unexplained physical anomalies that challenged the crew's understanding of contemporary human technology. According to Coyne's detailed testimony, the mysterious craft surged toward them at a staggering speed of over 600 knots. It was described as a grey, cigar-shaped metallic object, completely devoid of wings or a tail. Just as a mid-air collision seemed inevitable and Coyne braced his crew for impact, the UFO stopped abruptly above the helicopter, bathing the cockpit in an intense green light. At the height of the encounter, an extraordinary physical phenomenon occurred: despite the helicopter’s controls being set for a descent, the aircraft began to climb rapidly, as if pulled upward by a magnetic or anti-gravitational force emanating from the strange object. The historical significance of this event, often referred to as the "Coyne Incident," stems from the fact that it involves the testimony of a highly trained senior officer, backed by the reports of three additional eyewitness crew members. Unlike many civilian accounts, the Coyne case was rigorously investigated by aviation and military authorities and was even presented to the United Nations in 1978 as a primary example of the need for serious scientific research into extraterrestrial phenomena. The fact that the helicopter was lifted thousands of feet without pilot intervention remains a mechanical and physical mystery that scientists and skeptics alike struggle to explain. LT. Col. Coyne’s testimony is considered a cornerstone for ufologists, as it combines a close-range visual encounter with a direct physical effect on military hardware. While the event occurred during the peak of the great 1973 U.S. UFO wave, it stands out due to the precision of the details and the professional integrity of those involved. The description of a craft capable of maneuvering in total defiance of the laws of classical aeronautics continues to resonate today, as the American government begins to declassify more information regarding Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP).

תמלול הסרטון