Calama: Chilean Air Force Intercepts Massive Triangular UFO

Radar Detection On December 16, 1978 at 8:00 p.m., radar operators detected an unidentified flying object at approximately 10,000 feet altitude in the region surrounding Calama, Chile.

Military Interception Three F-5E fighter jets were scrambled from Antofagasta to intercept the object. The pilots achieved visual contact with the craft and reported observing a large triangular-shaped object with extraordinary dimensions—estimated to be approximately 50 times the size of their fighter aircraft.

Significance This incident represents a significant military encounter involving multiple jet aircraft and radar confirmation. The Chilean Air Force's official involvement and the corroborating radar data distinguish this case as one of the most substantial documented aerial encounters of 1978.