The Belgian UFO wave (1989–1991) – Mass sightings of a triangular flying object
Short description of the event
Between November 1989 and April 1991, thousands of people in Belgium reported sightings of a large, dark, triangular UFO with glowing lights at its corners. The first wave of sightings began on November 29, 1989, when hundreds of witnesses, including police officers and military personnel, observed a silently hovering object with a bright light.
In March 1990, the Belgian military confirmed radar detections of the object. F-16 fighter jets were dispatched, but were unable to catch the UFO because it exhibited sudden accelerations of over 1,800 km/h. The events were intensively investigated by the Belgian Air Force and the Société Belge d'Etude des Phénomènes Spatiaux (SOBEPS), but remain unexplained to this day.
When and where did this all happen?
The UFO sightings occurred in several regions of Belgium between November 1989 and April 1991. Particularly notable was the first mass report on November 29, 1989, in the Eupen area. On March 30 and 31, 1990, the Belgian Air Force attempted to intercept the object with F-16 fighter jets.
Main features of the event
Numerous witnesses described a large, silently hovering, triangular-shaped flying object with three bright white lights at the corners and a flashing red light in the center. The UFO moved slowly but exhibited sudden, abrupt accelerations.
Military radar systems of the Belgian Air Force confirmed the existence of an unidentified flying object that was inconsistent with conventional aircraft. On March 30, 1990, two F-16 fighter jets were dispatched to intercept the object. The UFO exhibited extreme changes in speed, from 280 km/h to 1,800 km/h in a few seconds, and performed abrupt 90-degree turns and sudden changes in altitude that are impossible for known aircraft.
In 1990, the famous "Petit Rechain" photograph, depicting a triangular UFO, was taken, but was later revealed to be a fake. Nevertheless, over 2,600 official witness accounts were documented, including reports from police officers, pilots, and military personnel, who independently confirmed the sightings.
Investigation and clarification attempts
Major General Wilfried De Brouwer, spokesperson for the Belgian Air Force, confirmed that no conventional explanation for the object had been found. Belgium released official radar recordings and collaborated with civilian UFO research organizations. The UFO research group SOBEPS analyzed the events and concluded that the observed object could be neither military nor civilian in nature.
Skeptical explanations suggest that it could have been a combination of mass suggestion, helicopters, and drones. Furthermore, the famous Petit Rechain photo, which was long used as evidence, was exposed as a fake by its creator in 2011.
List of the most credible witnesses
The Belgian Air Force, represented by Major General Wilfried De Brouwer, officially confirmed the radar detections and the unsuccessful interception attempts by F-16 fighter jets. Numerous police officers and military personnel independently reported sightings of the triangular flying object. In addition, over 2,600 civilian eyewitnesses provided consistent accounts containing many identical details.
Conclusion on credibility
Numerous military, police, and civilian witnesses confirm the sightings, and radar recordings and F-16 intercepts confirm the existence of an unidentified object. Belgian authorities took the events seriously and investigated them thoroughly. However, no physical evidence or wreckage of an unidentified flying object exists, and the famous Petit Rechain photo has been debunked. The possibility remains that these were experimental aircraft or mass suggestion.
credibility
High, as there is official confirmation from the military and radar recordings, but no definitive explanation exists.
Available media
This National Geographic episode explores the details of the incident and interviews witnesses.