On November 7, 2006, at approximately 4:15 PM CST, a perplexing event unfolded at one of the world’s busiest airports: Chicago O’Hare International Airport. A group of United Airlines employees, including pilots, ground staff, and airline management, along with a few independent witnesses outside the airport, reported seeing a metallic, saucer-shaped craft hovering over Gate C-17[1][2][3]. The incident has since become a celebrated case among ufologists, raising questions about air safety, government transparency, and the nature of unexplained aerial phenomena[1][6].
Timeline of Events
* 4:15 PM CST: A ramp employee pushing back United Airlines Flight 446, scheduled to depart for Charlotte, North Carolina, first spots the object hovering over Gate C-17[1][3]. He alerts the flight crew to the presence of the object[1][3].
* Minutes Later: Pilots, airline management, mechanics, and other ground staff rush out to observe the object, drawn by radio chatter and word of mouth[1][3][6].
* Approximately Five Minutes: Witnesses observe the object hovering silently before it shoots straight up through the overcast sky at high velocity, leaving behind a clear, blue hole in the cloud layer[1][4][5][6]. The hole reportedly seemed to close itself shortly afterward[1].
Eyewitness Accounts
The O’Hare incident is significant due to the number of credible witnesses, many of whom were aviation professionals familiar with aircraft and airport operations.
* Ramp Employee (First Witness): The ramp employee who first spotted the object was “compelled to look straight up for some reason and was startled to see the craft hovering silently”[2]. He described it as rotating, and metallic in nature with no lights[2].
* United Airlines Management Employee: A management employee reported running from his office after hearing radio chatter about the object[2]. He saw a relatively small object hovering in place over C17[2]. “After about a minute, I saw the aircraft zip to the east and disappeared”[2].
* Another Employee: “The employee stated the object was 500-1000 feet above the ground, rotating, and metallic in nature with no lights,” the NUFORC report read. “He said it looked like a frisbee and was directly above”[2].
* Witness (Outside the Airport): One witness described a disc-shaped craft hovering over the airport, stating that it was “obviously not clouds”[1]. According to this witness, the object shot through the clouds at high velocity, leaving a clear blue hole in the cloud layer[1][5].
* United Mechanic: “I tend to be scientific by nature, and I don’t understand why aliens would hover over a busy airport,” said one United mechanic. “But I know that what I saw and what a lot of other people saw stood out very clearly, and it definitely was not an [Earth] aircraft”[6].
Descriptions of the Phenomena
* Shape: Witnesses generally described the object as disc-shaped or saucer-shaped[1][2][6][7].
* Size: Estimates of the object’s size varied, ranging from 6 to 24 feet in diameter[1][6], with some reports suggesting it was closer to 50 feet[2].
* Color: The object was described as dark gray or metallic gray[1][6][8].
* Movement: The object hovered silently for several minutes before ascending rapidly and disappearing through the clouds, leaving a hole behind[1][3][4][5][6][8].
* Sound: The object was reportedly completely silent[1][6].
Official Reaction and Skeptical Explanations
* Initial Denial: Both United Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initially denied any knowledge of the sighting[1][3].
FAA Investigation: After theChicago Tribune* filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, the FAA ordered an internal review of air-traffic communications tapes[1][3].
* “Weather Phenomenon”: The FAA ultimately concluded that the sighting was caused by a “weather phenomenon” and would not be investigating the incident[1][3]. FAA spokesperson Elizabeth Isham Cory suggested the atmospheric conditions were right for seeing “funny things” due to low cloud ceilings and airport lights[3].
* Hole-Punch Cloud: Astronomer Mark Hammergren suggested the phenomenon could have been a “hole-punch cloud,” an unusual weather event caused by aircraft passing through uniform cloud cover[1][6].
* Contradictions and Concerns: UFO investigators have argued that the FAA’s refusal to investigate contradicts the agency’s mandate to investigate possible security breaches at American airports[1]. Some witnesses interviewed by the *Chicago Tribune* were apparently “upset” that federal officials declined to further investigate the matter[1].
The Enduring Questions
The 2006 O’Hare International Airport incident remains a point of contention. Despite the FAA’s explanation, many witnesses stand by their accounts, convinced that they saw something extraordinary[6]. The incident raises important questions about the credibility of eyewitness testimony, the role of government agencies in investigating UAP sightings, and the potential for unexplained phenomena to occur even in the most controlled environments.
As Sam Maranto, state director of the Illinois Mutual UFO Network, noted, “The O’Hare case is one of the best because the witnesses are trained observers. They know what’s supposed to be in the sky”[8]. Whether a misidentified weather phenomenon or something more enigmatic, the O’Hare incident continues to fuel debate and speculation, solidifying its place in the annals of UFO history[6].
Read More
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_O’Hare_International_Airport_UFO_sighting
[2] https://thedebrief.org/the-chicago-ohare-uap-incident-physics-teams-analysis-offers-a-fresh-look-at-this-famous-2006-case/
[3] https://simpleflying.com/chicago-o-hare-airport-reported-ufo-sighting-2006/
[4] https://www.aviationpros.com/home/news/10391904/just-what-was-that-object-hovering-overhead-at-ohare
[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEf_oU2CA64
[6] https://allthatsinteresting.com/ufo-sightings/9
[7] https://www.buecher.de/artikel/buch/2006-ohare-international-airport-ufo-sighting/29000448/
[8] https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/march-2007/do-you-believe/