Tehran

Event Summary

In the early morning of September 19, 1976, residents of Tehran began reporting a strange, luminous object in the sky. These reports came in as a series of frantic calls to the local air force command, describing a bright, glowing object moving erratically across the sky. Witnesses noted that the object was much brighter than a star and seemed to pulsate with different colors, making it stand out against the night sky.

Civilian Reports
The initial sightings were made by several residents across different parts of Tehran, who all described seeing a bright, shining object hovering in the sky. The brightness and unusual behavior of the object caused alarm among the public, leading to numerous calls to authorities. The object was reported to be stationary at times, while at other moments, it moved rapidly, changing its position and altitude with unusual agility.

Military Response
As the reports came in, the Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) decided to investigate. They scrambled two F-4 Phantom II jet interceptors from Shahrokhi Air Force Base. The first jet, piloted by Lieutenant Yaddi Nazeri, was dispatched to identify and possibly engage the object.

First Jet Encounter
Lieutenant Nazeri approached the object and attempted to close in for a better look. As he neared the object, he experienced a sudden and complete loss of instrumentation and communications in his aircraft. All his navigation and control systems failed, forcing him to break off and return to base. Remarkably, as soon as he distanced himself from the object, his systems returned to normal.

Second Jet Encounter
Following this, a second F-4, piloted by Major Parviz Jafari, was dispatched. Major Jafari managed to get a better look at the object. He described it as a diamond-shaped craft with flashing lights that cycled through red, green, orange, and blue. As he approached, he experienced the same instrument failure as Lieutenant Nazeri.

Detailed Encounter
Major Jafari's encounter became even more dramatic. As he attempted to engage the object, a smaller, bright object detached from the primary craft and headed directly towards his jet at high speed. In response, Major Jafari attempted to lock onto the smaller object with an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile, but his weapons control panel failed. This smaller object then circled around his jet and rejoined the larger craft.

Secondary Objects
Major Jafari also reported seeing another secondary object, which seemed to land gently on the ground, emitting a bright light that illuminated the area. Despite his attempts to approach and investigate further, the mysterious lights caused further instrumentation issues, forcing him to return to base. These sightings were corroborated by radar operators at Mehrabad Airport, who confirmed seeing an object on their radar that corresponded with the pilots' visual observations.

Aftermath and Ground Investigation
The following day, Major Jafari and his weapons officer conducted a daytime reconnaissance flight over the area where the smaller object was seen to land. However, they found no physical evidence or traces on the ground. Nearby residents reported hearing a loud noise and seeing a bright flash of light during the night, adding to the mystery but providing no conclusive evidence.

Government Involvement and Documentation
The incident was reported to higher authorities, and an initial assessment was relayed to the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. The event was documented in a memo by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA). These documents, later declassified under the Freedom of Information Act, provided a detailed account of the incident and the military's response.

Analysis and Theories
The Tehran UFO Incident has been analyzed extensively by both military officials and civilian UFO researchers. Various theories have been proposed to explain the sightings and the subsequent instrument failures experienced by the pilots. Some suggest that the object could have been an advanced military aircraft or drone, possibly from a foreign nation. However, the technology required to create such a craft, especially one that could cause such significant electronic interference, was not known to exist at the time.

Another theory posits that the object was extraterrestrial in origin, based on the behavior and characteristics described by the witnesses. The multi-colored flashing lights, high-speed maneuvers, and ability to disable electronic systems are features commonly reported in other UFO sightings around the world.

Event Details