Mysterious Disappearance of a 20-Year-Old Australian Pilot After His Encounter With UFO
The Haunting Mystery of Pilot Frederick Valentich's Disappearance
No matter how much people dismissed UFOs and extraterrestrial origins, the mystery persisted. One such event that puzzled UFO experts and added to the intrigue of alien life occurred in 1978. Frederick Valentich, a young pilot, disappeared after a cryptic message that left researchers shocked and puzzled. Despite extensive research and search efforts, no evidence of Valentich's body or plane was ever found. Even then, officials continued to try to solve the mysterious case and provide closure to Valentich's family and well-wishers.
Young Pilot's Chilling Last Words
The 20-year-old pilot Frederick Valentich had often been warned against flying into controlled regions. On October 21, 1978, he piloted a Cessna 182L, which took off from Moorabbin Airport in southern Melbourne, Australia, to travel to King Island. As he flew over the Bass Strait, he informed Melbourne air traffic control that he was being followed by an unknown aircraft. According to News.com.au, Valentich's last words were, "It is hovering, and it is not an aircraft." The message ended with strange metallic sounds. Over 40 years have passed, and neither Valentich nor his aircraft was ever found.
Theories Point at UFO Encounters
Experts and ufologists were highly convinced that the case resembled an alien abduction. Moreover, a group in Phoenix, Arizona, also thought that UFOs and alien phenomena were behind the mystery. According to All That's Interesting, another group of scientists called The Ground Saucer Watch claimed to have photos of a super-fast-moving object taken by a plumber near the area where Valentich disappeared. However, Knewz.com noted that the photos were not clear enough for officials to identify the object. Additionally, an unknown farmer claimed to have witnessed a 30-meter craft hovering over his farm on the same day Valentich went missing. Even though UFO theories might have been true, experts believed that there was no proof linking the case to aliens, and the mystery remained unsolved.
Explanation Besides UFO Involvement
Besides the theory that aliens took Valentich away, there were other possible explanations as well. Some officials believed that he might have become confused and been scared by his own aircraft's lights at night. Some suggested that he faked his disappearance because he was considered an inexperienced flyer with a total of only 150 flying hours, as reported by The Skeptical Inquirer. However, there was no evidence to support this idea. Another theory involved attempted suicide or a plane crash, as there were possibilities of engine failure or running low on fuel. However, people close to Valentich quickly dismissed the suicide speculation, stating that he would never have done such a thing.
Valentich's Irresponsible Behavior
With low flying hours, Valentich's application had been rejected twice by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) because he couldn’t meet their qualifications. According to ABC News, aside from trying to become a commercial pilot, he had a sketchy record of risky flying and had crossed warning zones more than once. He also had intentionally flown into restricted airspace, which could’ve landed him in some serious legal trouble. His flying skills and odd behavior just added to the whole mystery of his disappearance. Plus, no one knew why he flew to King Island, and he didn’t even let the authorities know about his landing, which raised a bunch of questions about his intentions.