Cinemascope

Planes Encounter UFOs - 1996

On February 28, 1996, two air flights made reports of unidentified flying objects. This particular time period had seen an abundance of UFOs reported over America's Midwest region.

A number of these reports cited unknown objects moving at great speeds, and making fantastic maneuvers. The majority of these reports involved elongated, or tube-like objects.

The crew of Air Shuttle flight 5959 and Mesaba Airlines flight 3179 would also make reports of the unidentified objects.

The pilot and co-pilot of flight 5959 would encounter a large, pulsating object. The object was first reported to be a brilliant white, but soon the UFO would exhibit various colors.

The pilot radioed the Cleveland control tower, reported what he and his co-pilot were seeing, and asked if any air traffic was in that position.

Radar Shows Nothing

The control tower operator saw nothing on his radar, and reported this back to the pilot. The pilot responded that the object was several thousand feet below 5959's position, and about 10 miles distant.

Monitoring the radio exchange, the pilot of Mesaba 3179 radioed to Cleveland tower that he too was seeing the object. He reported that the UFO had pulsating lights.

The only possible explanation that the Cleveland tower could suggest was that the crews were seeing a reflection in the clouds of a landing beacon. But both planes reported that the light was a distinct source of its own.

The pilot of 5959 decided to drop down below the object. When he did, he could still the spinning, pulsating object above him very clearly. This proved that the lights were not originating from the ground.

Mesaba 3179 even attempted to make contact with the UFO by blinking its lights, but there was no response from the unknown object.

Mystery Photograph

Mesaba would also report that one of their passengers had snapped several photographs of the UFO, and the Cleveland tower made it clear that they were interested in them.

What happened to the photographs is a mystery, as well as what the object was that was seen by the two aircraft on February 28, 1996.

Below is an excerpt from the transcript of radio communications between Cleveland tower, Air Shuttle 5959, and Masaba 3179.

Air Shuttle 5959: Air Cleveland, this is 5959. We see traffic out there. Ah... twelve to one o'clock. Ah... low altitude. Do you have him on the radar?

Cleveland Control: Air Shuttle 5959, that's a negative. Sir, I don't have anything out in front of you at twelve to one o'clock.

Air Shuttle 5959: Ok...

Cleveland Control: He's down well below you or can you get an estimate on an altitude on him?

Air Shuttle 5959: Well, that could be really difficult. Ah... we're between layers here. I'm just going to estimate two-three thousand feet below us. Maybe and ah... sort of ah... pulsating light about, I don't know, ten miles out.

Cleveland Control: Ok, Air Shuttle 5959. I'll keep my eyes open. But I don't see anything.