Chile Establishes CEFAA: Official UFO Investigation Body Within DGAC

Chile established CEFAA in 1997 within its civil aviation authority, triggered by mass UFO sightings over Arica.

Date

October 3, 1997

Type

Program

Country

🇨🇱 Chile

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Background

The Committee for the Study of Anomalous Aerial Phenomena (CEFAA) was officially created on October 3, 1997, within Chile's Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC), prompted by mass UFO sightings over Arica in March-April 1997. This marked the first public government statement on UFOs in Chilean history, with General Gonzalo Miranda, DGAC director, ordering its establishment.

Triggering Incident

Mass UFO sightings occurred over Arica in March-April 1997.
These led to the first public government statement on UFOs in Chilean history.

Establishment

CEFAA was created on October 3, 1997, within DGAC.
General Gonzalo Miranda, DGAC director, ordered its creation.
CEFAA has access to all military radar data.