BR Statement Minister of Aeronautics, Brig. Octávio Moreira Lima
The Air Minister holds a press conference on the night of 19 May
On 2 June 1986 the acting commander of the Air Defence Command (COMDA), Brig. José Pessoa Cavalcanti de Albuquerque, sent a confidential occurrence report to the Commander of the General Air Command on the events of the night of 19 May 1986. The report gives a chronological account of air traffic control and air defence radar detections and of interceptor sorties from the Santa Cruz and Anápolis air bases. It says one pilot reached 2 miles from a radar contact that pulled away while he was flying at supersonic speed. It concludes that the phenomena were solid, reflected a certain intelligence and were not necessarily crewed.
1 document·5 points·1 story
- The report says it limited itself to a simple narration of the facts so as not to give room for speculation involving the Ministry of Aeronautics.
- It states that the radars in use were designed primarily for air traffic control, not air defence, and that the contacts were not strong enough to be initiated for tracking.
- One Anápolis interceptor made five passes with airborne radar contact but no visual contact, once reaching 2 miles of a target that moved in zigzags and pulled away even at supersonic speed.
- During one vectoring, thirteen plots appeared for a moment behind a Santa Cruz aircraft, which turned 180 degrees without visual or airborne radar contact.
- The command concluded that the phenomena were solid, reflected a certain intelligence by keeping their distance and flying in formation, and were not necessarily crewed; it noted 7 armed aircraft were available less than 30 minutes after activation.
Documents
- Document Relatório de Ocorrência, COMDA, 2 June 1986 (BR DFANBSB ARX.0.0.249) Arquivo Nacional / Ministério da Aeronáutica· 1986-06-02· 8 pp.
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