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Coyne Helicopter Incident
An Army Reserve helicopter piloted by Captain Lawrence Coyne encountered a grey metallic object that stopped their descent and pulled them upward from 1,700 to 3,500 feet—with the collective still down. Ground witnesses corroborated the sighting. One of the most credible military encounters.
1973
Mansfield, Ohio, USA
8+ witnesses
An Army helicopter was pulled upward by a UFO.
The Crew
October 18, 1973:
- Captain Lawrence Coyne
- UH-1H Huey helicopter
- Army Reserve unit
- Four crew members
- Routine flight
The Encounter
What happened:
- Red light approached
- Collision course
- Emergency descent
- Object stopped
- Hovered over helicopter
The Object
What they saw:
- Grey metallic
- Cigar-shaped
- 60 feet long
- Green light projected
- No sound
The Impossible
Physical effects:
- Collective still down
- Aircraft pulled UP
- 1,700 to 3,500 feet
- Controls unresponsive
- Then released
Ground Witnesses
Corroboration:
- Family on ground
- Saw helicopter and object
- Saw green light
- Saw altitude change
- Multiple witnesses
The Investigation
Official response:
- Reported to Army
- FAA notified
- No explanation
- Coyne testified
- Case remains open