Northeast Blackout UFO Sightings
During the Great Northeast Blackout of November 9, 1965, which left 30 million people without power, numerous UFO sightings were reported over the affected area. Some witnesses claimed to see objects near power infrastructure moments before the blackout began. Though officially attributed to a relay failure, some researchers have suggested a connection between the UFOs and the unprecedented power grid collapse.
The Great Northeast Blackout of 1965 plunged 30 million people into darkness across seven U.S. states and parts of Canada. As lights went out across the region, people looked up - and some reported seeing UFOs near power lines and substations. While the official explanation points to a relay failure, the coincidence of UFO sightings and one of the largest power failures in history has never been fully explained.
November 9, 1965
The blackout struck without warning:
Time: Beginning at 5:16 PM EST.
Affected Area: New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ontario, Canada.
Population: Approximately 30 million people lost power.
Duration: Power was out for up to 13 hours in some areas.
The Blackout
The power failure was unprecedented:
Cascading Failure: A relay tripped at the Sir Adam Beck Station in Ontario.
Chain Reaction: The failure cascaded across the interconnected grid.
Total Darkness: Major cities including New York went completely dark.
Chaos: Traffic lights, elevators, subways, and all electric services failed.
The Official Explanation
Power authorities identified a cause:
Relay Failure: A single relay at the Queenston generating station was blamed.
Design Flaw: The relay was set incorrectly for the load it was handling.
Cascade Effect: The failure spread through the interconnected system.
Systemic Vulnerability: The blackout exposed weaknesses in the power grid.
UFO Reports
During and before the blackout, UFOs were reported:
Syracuse, New York: Multiple witnesses reported a glowing object near power lines before the blackout began.
Newark Airport: Pilots and air traffic controllers reported unusual objects.
New York City: As lights went out, people saw strange lights in the sky.
Canadian Sightings: Objects were reported near the Ontario generating stations.
The Syracuse Sighting
One of the most significant reports:
Timing: A witness reported seeing a large, glowing object moments before the blackout.
Location: Near the Clay Substation, part of the power grid.
Description: A glowing, disc-shaped object.
Coincidence: The local blackout began immediately after the sighting.
Weldon Ross: A pilot who photographed an object over Syracuse that evening.
The Weldon Ross Photograph
A pilot captured an image:
The Witness: Ross was a flight instructor at Hancock Field.
The Photo: He photographed a bright object over Syracuse.
Timing: The photograph was taken as the blackout was spreading.
Analysis: The photo shows a bright, somewhat disc-shaped glow.
Debate: Its identity has never been conclusively determined.
Power Line Association
Multiple reports connected UFOs to power infrastructure:
Near Lines: Objects were seen near high-voltage transmission lines.
Near Substations: Sightings occurred near power substations.
Timeline: Some sightings preceded local power failures.
Pattern: Researchers noted a potential correlation.
Dr. James McDonald
The atmospheric physicist investigated:
Research: McDonald studied UFO reports from the blackout.
Congressional Testimony: He later mentioned the incident in congressional testimony.
Connection: He found the reports significant enough to study seriously.
Pattern: He noted similar reports during other power failures.
The Power Company Response
Utilities were asked about UFOs:
Denial: Power companies denied any connection.
Official Cause: They pointed to the relay failure explanation.
No Investigation: They did not investigate the UFO reports.
Focus: Their attention was on restoring power and preventing future failures.
Similar Incidents
Other blackouts have had associated UFO reports:
1959 New York: A smaller outage had similar UFO reports.
1960 New Mexico: UFO sightings accompanied a regional blackout.
Brazil 2009: A major Brazilian blackout had UFO reports near the Itaipu Dam.
Pattern: Some researchers see a pattern worth investigating.
The Federal Power Commission
The official investigation focused on technical issues:
Report: A detailed technical report identified the relay failure.
No UFO Investigation: The commission did not investigate UFO reports.
Recommendations: They focused on preventing cascading failures.
Silence: The UFO angle was not officially addressed.
Electromagnetic Effects
UFOs have been associated with electrical effects:
Vehicle Stalling: Many UFO reports include car engines dying.
Radio Interference: Communication systems often fail near UFOs.
Power Disruption: Reports of localized power failures near UFOs are common.
Mechanism: If real, this suggests UFOs generate strong electromagnetic fields.
Skeptical View
Critics question the UFO connection:
Correlation vs. Causation: UFOs were reported, but that doesn’t mean they caused the blackout.
Looking Up: With lights out, more people would notice things in the sky.
Known Cause: The relay failure is a sufficient explanation.
Confirmation Bias: People may have connected unrelated phenomena.
Supporting Arguments
Those who see a connection argue:
Timing: Sightings just before local outages suggest a relationship.
Location: Sightings near power infrastructure are significant.
Pattern: Similar reports during other blackouts suggest a phenomenon.
Mechanism: UFOs might interfere with electrical systems.
The Official Record
The incident is documented:
NICAP Reports: UFO researchers collected multiple reports from the blackout.
Newspaper Accounts: Contemporary news coverage mentioned UFO sightings.
Air Force Files: Project Blue Book received reports from the period.
Congressional Mention: The connection was raised in congressional UFO hearings.
Cultural Impact
The incident captured public imagination:
Movies: The idea of UFOs causing blackouts has appeared in fiction.
Ongoing Interest: The case continues to be discussed in UFO circles.
Urban Legend: The connection has become part of UFO folklore.
Questions: It raises questions about UFOs and electrical infrastructure.
Legacy
The Northeast Blackout UFO connection matters because:
- Multiple witnesses reported UFOs during a major power failure
- Some sightings were near power infrastructure
- The timing of some sightings preceded local outages
- It suggests a potential relationship between UFOs and electrical systems
- The coincidence has never been officially investigated
Whatever the truth, the Great Northeast Blackout remains associated with UFO sightings in the minds of many who lived through that dark night when 30 million people looked up at stars they hadn’t seen in years - and some saw something else.
Sources
- NICAP UFO reports from 1965
- Federal Power Commission report
- Contemporary newspaper accounts
- Dr. James McDonald research
- Project Blue Book files