02 · LORE
551 FILES·LAST 1D AGO
Continental Europe1979-11-11civilian claim

Manises Emergency Landing

On November 11, 1979, Iberia/TAE Flight JK-297 made an emergency landing at Manises Airport near Valencia, Spain, the first documented case of a commercial aircraft diverting specifically because of a UFO. Captain Francisco Javier Lerdo de Tejada reported red lights approaching the aircraft on a collision course. A Spanish Air Force Mirage F1 scrambled from Albacete reached Mach 1.4 in pursuit before losing contact.

On November 11, 1979, Iberia/TAE Flight JK-297 made an emergency landing at Manises Airport near Valencia, Spain, the first documented case of a commercial aircraft diverting specifically because of a UFO.

Brief

On November 11, 1979, Iberia/TAE Flight JK-297 made an emergency landing at Manises Airport near Valencia, Spain, the first documented case of a commercial aircraft diverting specifically because of a UFO. Captain Francisco Javier Lerdo de Tejada reported red lights approaching the aircraft on a collision course. A Spanish Air Force Mirage F1 scrambled from Albacete reached Mach 1.4 in pursuit before losing contact. Military and civilian radar at Torrejón and Barcelona both detected anomalous returns. The full Spanish Air Force report was declassified in August 1994. The official conclusion, that the lights were likely reflections from a distant industrial complex, was rejected by the flight crew, the pursuing fighter pilot Captain Fernando Cámara, and multiple aviation investigators.

Metadata

Date
1979-11-11
Year
1979
Location
Valencia, Spain
Region
Continental Europe
Status
confirmed
Tag
civilian claim
Primary
The Flight JK297 UFO Incident. The Manises Case
Source type
html
Sources
2

Key Points

  • On November 11, 1979, Iberia/TAE Flight JK-297 made an emergency landing at Manises Airport near Valencia, Spain, the first documented case of a commercial aircraft diverting specifically because of a UFO.
  • Captain Francisco Javier Lerdo de Tejada reported red lights approaching the aircraft on a collision course.
  • A Spanish Air Force Mirage F1 scrambled from Albacete reached Mach 1.4 in pursuit before losing contact.
  • Military and civilian radar at Torrejón and Barcelona both detected anomalous returns.

Most Interesting

  • A Spanish Air Force Mirage F1 scrambled from Albacete reached Mach 1.4 in pursuit before losing contact.
  • The full Spanish Air Force report was declassified in August 1994.
  • On November 11, 1979, Iberia/TAE Flight JK-297 made an emergency landing at Manises Airport near Valencia, Spain, the first documented case of a commercial aircraft diverting specifically because of a UFO.

Timeline

  1. 1979-11-11 · Encounter

    On November 11, 1979, Iberia/TAE Flight JK-297 made an emergency landing at Manises Airport near Valencia, Spain, the first documented case of a commercial aircraft diverting specifically because of a UFO.

  2. 2022 · Source record

    The Flight JK297 UFO Incident. The Manises Case is the preferred source material attached to this encounter.

Sources

Connected Encounters

Related topics

SharePostReddit