Manises Incident: Iberia Flight Forced to Emergency Land by Unidentified Lights
An Iberia Airlines Boeing 727 made an emergency landing at Valencia after being approached by bright red lights; Mirage F1 fighters were scrambled.
Source context
This box summarizes currently attached sources and documents. It is not automatic verification and does not replace editorial review.
Background
On November 11, 1979, Iberia Airlines Flight 1240 from Salzburg to Las Palmas was diverted to Valencia-Manises Airport after the captain reported two intensely bright red lights on a collision course with his Boeing 727. The incident led to an emergency landing and a Spanish Air Force response, remaining unexplained in official files.
The Incident
Captain Francisco Javier Lerdo de Tejada reported two intensely bright red lights on a collision course.
He took evasive action and requested emergency landing clearance.
The aircraft landed safely at Valencia-Manises Airport.
Investigation
The control tower at Manises reported tracking an unidentified return.
Two Spanish Air Force Mirage F1 fighters were scrambled from Los Llanos Air Base.
The Spanish Air Force thoroughly investigated the case, and it remains in their official files as unexplained.
Witness Accounts
Captain Fernando Cámara, one of the pilots, reported visual contact with a bright conical object.
The object appeared to respond to his approach by accelerating rapidly away.
His onboard radar locked onto the object before it disappeared at extreme speed.
Significance
It is considered one of the most significant European military-aviation UAP encounters.
Connections
More community notes about this entry
These are personal research notes that community members chose to publish. They are not an editorial publication by the platform.