The Coyne Helicopter UFO incident stands out as one of the most compelling and well-documented UFO encounters involving military personnel. Taking place on the night of October 18, 1973, this extraordinary event unfolded in the skies over Ohio and has since become a cornerstone in the study of unidentified flying objects. The incident is particularly significant because of the credibility of the witnesses—four Army Reserve servicemen, including the highly experienced CAPTAIN LAWRENCE J. COYNE, who were aboard a UH-1H helicopter during the encounter. The object they observed and the subsequent unexplained phenomena they experienced have left an indelible mark on UFO research, fueling decades of investigation and speculation. Despite extensive efforts to explain the event through conventional means, the Coyne Helicopter UFO incident remains an unsolved mystery, challenging our understanding of aerial phenomena and the potential for extraterrestrial encounters.

INCIDENT SUMMARY

On the night of October 18, 1973, a UH-1H helicopter, piloted by CAPTAIN LAWRENCE J. COYNE, departed from Columbus, Ohio, en route to Cleveland. The flight was routine until the crew noticed a bright red light in the distance, moving rapidly towards their aircraft. What followed was an extraordinary series of events that would leave the crew deeply shaken and the helicopter itself seemingly at the mercy of an unknown force. The red light quickly approached the helicopter, revealing itself to be a large, cigar-shaped object with a dome on top. As the object passed directly over the helicopter, the aircraft began a rapid and uncommanded descent of 1,500 feet, despite the pilot’s attempts to maintain altitude. The object hovered above the helicopter for a brief moment before speeding away at an incredible velocity. The incident was over in minutes, but its impact on the crew was profound, as they struggled to comprehend the extraordinary experience they had just undergone. This encounter, characterized by its close proximity and the physical effects on the helicopter, stands as a textbook example of a Close Encounter of the Second Kind (CE2), as defined by Dr. J. Allen Hynek’s classification system.

DETAILS

  • LOCATION: Over Mansfield, Ohio, USA
  • DATE: October 18, 1973
  • TIME: Approximately 11:00 PM (23:00 hours)
  • EVENT DURATION: Approximately 10 minutes
  • NUMBER OF OBJECTS: 1
  • OBJECT(S) SHAPE: Cigar-shaped with a dome on top
  • DESCRIPTION OF THE OBJECT(S): The object was initially seen as a red light, which then appeared to be a gray, metallic, cigar-shaped craft with a dome on top when it was closer. The object emitted a green light that illuminated the helicopter’s interior and the surrounding area. The craft was estimated to be approximately 60 feet long.
  • ALIEN(S) ENCOUNTERED: None reported
  • DESCRIPTION OF ALIEN(S): Not applicable
  • CE CLASSIFICATION: CE2 (Close Encounter of the Second Kind)
  • The UFO sighting involved an object within 500 feet of the helicopter. The physical effects observed included the helicopter’s altimeter indicating a sudden drop of 1,500 feet, despite the pilot’s attempts to climb. The helicopter’s magnetic compass also spun wildly during the encounter. These effects are consistent with electromagnetic interference typically associated with a CE2 event.

WITNESSES

The credibility of the Coyne Helicopter UFO incident is bolstered by the reliability and professionalism of the witnesses involved. Each of the four men aboard the helicopter had military training and experience, making their detailed accounts of the encounter particularly compelling. Their testimonies have remained consistent over the years, providing a robust foundation for the investigation of this event.

  • CAPTAIN LAWRENCE J. COYNE: A highly experienced pilot with years of service in the Army Reserve, was in command of the UH-1H helicopter during the encounter. His account is particularly significant because he was responsible for the aircraft’s operation and experienced firsthand the unexplained descent of the helicopter as the UFO passed overhead. CAPTAIN COYNE described the UFO’s approach, the intense green light that filled the cockpit, and the momentary loss of control over the helicopter as it descended 1,500 feet against his inputs.
  • SERGEANT JOHN HEILIG: The crew chief, HEILIG had a clear view of the UFO as it approached and passed over the helicopter. He corroborated CAPTAIN COYNE’s account, adding details about the object’s shape and the color of the lights it emitted. He also reported the chaotic behavior of the helicopter’s instruments during the encounter, including the spinning of the magnetic compass and the altimeter’s sudden drop.
  • SPECIALIST 4 GARY BUTLER: The flight medic on board, was responsible for the well-being of the crew during the flight. He witnessed the UFO’s approach and the unusual green light that filled the helicopter. His account supports the other testimonies, and he provided additional observations about the physiological effects experienced by the crew during and after the incident, including a sense of disorientation and nausea.
  • LIEUTENANT ARRIGO JEAN BORDEN: The co-pilot, was seated next to CAPTAIN COYNE and had a clear view of the UFO as it passed over the helicopter. He provided a detailed account of the encounter, corroborating the descriptions of the object and the helicopter’s un-commanded descent. LIEUTENANT BORDEN’s testimony is particularly valuable because of his role in assisting CAPTAIN COYNE during the flight and his observations of the cockpit instruments during the event.

CONCLUSION

The Coyne Helicopter UFO incident remains a landmark case in UFO research, not only because of the dramatic nature of the encounter but also due to the credibility of the witnesses involved. Despite numerous investigations by both civilian and military authorities, no conventional explanation has ever been provided for the events of October 18, 1973. The physical effects observed on the helicopter, the detailed and consistent witness testimonies, and the lasting psychological impact on the crew all suggest that this was a genuine close encounter with an unknown craft. The incident continues to be studied and analyzed, and it remains one of the most compelling cases supporting the possibility of extraterrestrial visitation. As UFO research progresses, the Coyne Helicopter UFO incident stands as a testament to the enduring mystery of these unexplained phenomena and the need for continued investigation.