Pititinga: Tugboat Caiobá Seahorse encounters hovering object

Incident Overview On July 26, 1980 at approximately 6:50 p.m., the crew of the tugboat Caiobá Seahorse detected an unusual aerial phenomenon while operating approximately 24 miles off Pititinga, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

Observations and Witnesses First Mate Fernando Fangueiro initially observed the object through binoculars as it moved over the water. The object eventually halted and hovered between 32–50 feet above the ocean surface. Multiple crew members provided descriptions: one sailor characterized it as oval-shaped, approximately half the size of the full moon, with a white light on its upper section. Captain José da Silva, the vessel's commander, described the object as saucer-shaped, roughly twice the size of the moon, emitting blue and orange lights.

Physical Evidence and Phenomena A secondary luminous phenomenon appeared in the water, shining brightly for 20 seconds before extinguishing. This underwater light appeared connected to a gray object on or beneath the sea surface. The primary object directed an intense downward light beam and subsequently aimed a beam toward the tugboat for approximately 2 seconds. Around 7:20 p.m., the object accelerated northwestward, then ascended rapidly and vanished from view.

Official Reports Captain da Silva radioed the maritime service in Natal, Brazil to report the sighting. The Teche Seahorse, a speedboat accompanying the Caiobá, detected the object via radar. The Teche's engineer Atilio Scarpati and a crewman observed the object as an unusual white light of exceptional brightness. The incident was subsequently reported to the Brazilian Navy, Port Authority, and Brazilian Air Force.