The Kaikoura Lights incident is one of New Zealand's most famous UFO sightings, occurring over a series of nights in December 1978. These sightings took place in the skies above the Kaikōura mountain ranges, located in the northeast of New Zealand's South Island. The region is known for its dramatic natural beauty, with mountains rising to heights of 2600 meters and an undersea canyon plunging to depths of over 1200 meters close to shore.
The incident began on December 21, 1978, when a cargo aircraft crew reported seeing mysterious lights while flying over the area. These sightings quickly gained national and international attention due to the involvement of credible witnesses, including pilots, air traffic controllers, and a television news crew, as well as the collection of radar and film evidence.
Initial Sighting on December 21, 1978
The first reported sighting occurred on December 21, 1978, during a routine cargo flight operated by Safe Air Ltd. The aircraft was an Armstrong Whitworth AW.660 Argosy, crewed by Captain Vern Powell, First Officer Ian Pirie, and Loadmaster Kim Ashby. The flight was en route from Blenheim to Christchurch, transporting newspapers and other cargo.
Encounter with the Lights:
As the aircraft approached the Kaikōura coast, the crew observed a series of strange lights in the sky. Initially, they saw a group of five bright lights moving in a line. The lights appeared to be large, with some witnesses describing them as "the size of a house."
The lights displayed unusual behavior, including sudden movements and changes in speed and direction. At times, the lights seemed to follow the aircraft, maintaining a consistent distance.
The crew reported that the lights were visible both visually and on the aircraft's radar, confirming their physical presence. The radar readings showed strong returns from the objects, indicating that they were solid and not just reflections or atmospheric anomalies.
Communication with Air Traffic Control:
The crew contacted Wellington Air Traffic Control to report the sightings and to inquire if there were any known aircraft or activities in the area. The air traffic controllers confirmed that there were no other aircraft in the vicinity that could account for the lights.
The radar at Wellington also picked up the objects, corroborating the crew's observations. The controllers and the crew monitored the lights for several minutes, attempting to identify their nature.
Continued Observations:
The lights accompanied the aircraft for a significant portion of the flight, disappearing and reappearing at various intervals. At one point, the lights moved away from the aircraft, only to reappear closer a few minutes later.
The crew described the lights as having a white or bluish hue, with occasional flashes of red or orange. The intensity and size of the lights varied, with some appearing smaller and more distant.
Subsequent Sightings and Media Involvement
Following the initial sighting, the Kaikoura Lights continued to be observed over the next several days. The media quickly picked up on the story, and a television news crew from Australia decided to investigate and document the phenomena.
December 30, 1978 – TV Crew Encounter:
On December 30, 1978, a television crew from Australia, led by journalist Quentin Fogarty, flew to New Zealand to film a segment about the sightings. They boarded the same type of cargo aircraft, operated by Safe Air Ltd., to capture footage of the lights.
The flight crew included Captain Bill Startup, First Officer Bob Guard, and Flight Engineer Graeme Rendle. The TV crew consisted of Fogarty, his cameraman David Crockett, and sound technician Dennis Grant.
Encounter During the Flight:
Shortly after takeoff from Wellington, the crew spotted the lights again. The TV crew and the aircraft crew observed multiple lights tracking alongside the aircraft.
David Crockett captured the lights on film, providing visual evidence of the encounter. The footage showed bright, moving lights that appeared to change shape and size, sometimes forming a triangular pattern.
The lights were visible both to the naked eye and on the aircraft's radar. The radar readings indicated that the objects were maintaining a consistent distance and speed relative to the aircraft.
Air Traffic Control and Radar Confirmation:
Wellington Air Traffic Control continued to monitor the situation, confirming that their radar was detecting unidentified objects in the vicinity of the aircraft. The radar returns were described as "strong" and "definite," suggesting that the objects were solid and not just atmospheric anomalies.
The air traffic controllers remained in communication with the aircraft, providing updates and corroborating the sightings.
Continued Observations and Film Evidence:
The lights followed the aircraft for an extended period, displaying erratic movements and changes in altitude. At one point, a large, bright light appeared near the aircraft's wingtip, remaining in close proximity for several minutes.
The TV crew recorded detailed observations and provided a running commentary during the flight. Their accounts, combined with the film footage and radar data, created a comprehensive record of the encounter.
Government and Scientific Investigations
The Kaikoura Lights incident prompted investigations by various government and scientific organizations. The Royal New Zealand Air Force, the police, and the Carter Observatory in Wellington cooperated to examine the sightings and determine their cause.
Initial Explanations and Theories:
The New Zealand Ministry of Defence and other authorities proposed several possible explanations for the sightings. These included lights from squid boats reflected off clouds, unburnt meteors, or lights from the planet Venus or trains and cars.
Skeptics suggested that the lights could be attributed to optical illusions, misidentifications of conventional objects, or atmospheric phenomena.
CIA Report:
Declassified documents from the CIA, released after the dispatch of a Lockheed P-3 Orion to the area following the sightings, stated that the events were "unique among civilian UFO reports." The report highlighted the large amount of documentary evidence, including witness recollections, tape recordings, radar data, and film footage.
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