A U.S. Army Reserve helicopter crew reported a close encounter with an unidentified aerial object that allegedly caused their helicopter to climb without pilot input.
The Coyne Incident is a widely regarded highly credible UFO encounter that occurred on October 18, 1973, near Mansfield, Ohio, involving a U.S. Army Reserve helicopter crew.
The Encounter
Witnesses: Captain Lawrence Coyne, First Lieutenant Arrigo Jezzi, Sergeant John Healey, and Sergeant Robert Yanacsek were flying a UH-1H Huey helicopter from Columbus to Cleveland.
Object Description: The crew spotted a cigar-shaped, gray, metallic object approximately 60 feet long with a red light at the front and a green light at the rear.
Anomalous Behavior: The object appeared to move at extreme speeds (estimated 600 knots), halted directly above the helicopter, and bathed the cockpit in a bright green beam.
Physical Effects: Despite being in a dive, the helicopter was forcibly lifted from 1,700 to 3,500 feet without control input or turbulence. The crew reported temporary flash blindness and disorientation.
Evidence: Radar at Mansfield Lahm Airport confirmed an unidentified target merging with the helicopter's position before departing at high speed. The helicopter's magnetic compass malfunctioned and had to be replaced.
Aftermath and Significance
The incident is considered one of the most well-documented UFO cases in history due to the credibility of the military witnesses and physical evidence (radar logs, mechanical failure).
The crew received the National Enquirer Blue Ribbon Panel’s $5,000 award for the "most scientifically valuable report of 1973."
Despite investigations by the Army and FAA, no conventional explanation was ever provided, and the official report remains classified or unexplained.
| Date: | 1973-10-18 |
| Location: | Near Mansfield, Ohio |
| Country: | United States |
| Category: | Military |
| Credibility: | High / Well Documented |