Coyne Helicopter

Event Summary

The Coyne Helicopter Incident is one of the most compelling and well-documented UFO encounters, occurring on the night of October 18, 1973, near Mansfield, Ohio. The incident involved a U.S. Army Reserve helicopter piloted by Captain Lawrence J. Coyne and his crew, who experienced an extraordinary encounter with a UFO while flying between Columbus and Cleveland.

The Crew and Initial Flight
The crew consisted of Captain Lawrence J. Coyne, who was the aircraft commander, First Lieutenant Arrigo Jezzi, the copilot, Sergeant John Healey, the flight medic, and Sergeant Robert Yanacsek, the crew chief. All four men were experienced and trained in their respective roles, adding credibility to their accounts.

That night, the crew was on a routine training flight in a UH-1H "Huey" helicopter. The weather conditions were clear, with good visibility, making it an ideal night for flying. The helicopter was cruising at an altitude of approximately 2,500 feet when the incident began.

The Initial Sighting
At around 11:02 PM, the crew noticed a single red light off to the west, which appeared to be moving south towards their helicopter. Initially, they thought it might be a navigational light from another aircraft. However, the light's rapid and erratic movements soon indicated that it was something out of the ordinary. The red light approached at a high speed, and it became apparent that it was on a direct collision course with the helicopter.

Evasive Maneuvers
Captain Coyne, realizing the potential danger, took control of the helicopter and initiated a descent to avoid the approaching object. He pushed the helicopter's nose down and began a powered descent, but the red light continued to approach. Despite Coyne's evasive maneuvers, the object closed the distance rapidly.

The Close Encounter
As the object approached, it was revealed to be a gray, metallic-looking, cigar-shaped craft, approximately 60 feet long and 20 feet wide. The object had a dome on top and emitted a bright green light from its forward section, which illuminated the helicopter. The crew observed this light sweep over the helicopter, bathing the entire aircraft in a green glow.

The UFO hovered above and slightly ahead of the helicopter for several minutes. During this time, the crew could see the craft in great detail. The green light was so intense that it penetrated the helicopter's interior, causing the crew to feel a tingling sensation on their skin.

Communication Failure and Physical Effects
Captain Coyne attempted to contact the Mansfield control tower, but all radio communications failed. The crew could hear the channel and keying tones but received no response. This communication blackout added to the eerie nature of the encounter.

At the same time, the helicopter experienced a sudden loss of power and control. The altimeter showed a rapid descent of about 500 feet, and the crew struggled to regain control. However, the helicopter's instruments indicated that they were still climbing at a rate of 1,000 feet per minute, even though the visual impression was that they were descending. This discrepancy between the visual and instrument readings puzzled the crew.

The UFO's Departure
After hovering above the helicopter for several minutes, the UFO abruptly changed its course and moved away at high speed, disappearing into the night sky. The green light that had illuminated the helicopter faded, and the aircraft's instruments returned to normal. The helicopter regained power and control, and the crew continued their flight to Cleveland without further incident.

Aftermath and Reporting
Once on the ground, the crew was understandably shaken by their experience. They reported the incident to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Air Force, seeking an explanation for what they had encountered. Despite the detailed and credible accounts provided by the crew, no official explanation was ever given. The case was documented in the "Project Blue Book" files, which were the official Air Force records of UFO sightings, but it remains unexplained.

Media Coverage and Publicity
The Coyne Helicopter Incident received widespread media attention, both locally and nationally. Newspapers, radio stations, and television programs covered the story, bringing it to the public's attention. Captain Coyne and his crew were interviewed by various media outlets, and they consistently provided detailed and coherent accounts of the encounter.

The incident was also featured in the 1974 documentary "UFOs: Past, Present, and Future," hosted by Rod Serling, the creator of "The Twilight Zone." This documentary was significant because it was supported by the Nixon White House, adding a layer of legitimacy to the event.

Witness Credibility and Support
One of the factors that added credibility to the Coyne Helicopter Incident was the impeccable reputation of Captain Coyne and his crew. P.J. Vollmer, the chief of operations for the FAA at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, personally vouched for Coyne's integrity and professionalism. Vollmer's endorsement further reinforced the credibility of the crew's accounts.

Government and Military Reaction
Despite the lack of an official government investigation, the incident was taken seriously within military and aviation circles. The Army and the FAA conducted informal inquiries, but no definitive conclusions were reached. The Air Force's "Project Blue Book" files include the Coyne Helicopter Incident, but it remains one of the many unexplained cases in the files.

Event Details