Type: Communications Record
Source: Imperial Iranian Air Force
The 1976 Tehran UFO incident occurred on the night of September 19, 1976, when two Iranian F-4 Phantom jets were scrambled to intercept an unidentified, glowing object emitting intense lights. As the jets approached, their pilots reported severe radar lock failures, communication garbles, and weapons system blackouts. The official U. S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) declassified report and the radio transcripts detail a chaotic and anomalous sequence of events:First Interceptor: A pilot reported the object was emitting brilliant flashing lights (violet, orange, white, and red). When he attempted to intercept, his communications and navigational equipment failed, forcing him to abort and return to base.
Second Interceptor (Lt. Parviz Jafari): Radar operators on the second F-4 obtained a lock on an object the size of a Boeing 707. As Jafari prepared to launch an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile, his weapons control panel and internal communications completely died.
The Chase: During the pursuit, multiple smaller, brightly glowing orbs detached from the main object, one of which dove toward the ground, emitting a brilliant glow that illuminated the desert floor.
The Aftermath: Jafari's instruments and communications only returned to normal after he made a defensive diving turn and broke away from the chase. The incident was corroborated by civilian observers on the ground, ground control at Mehrabad International Airport, and an infrared anomaly recorded by a U. S. military reconnaissance satellite.