The Peruvian Air Force Encounter

On April 11, 1980, Peruvian Air Force pilot Oscar Santa Maria Huertas engaged a UFO near La Joya Air Base. His Su-22 fighter fired 64 rounds directly into the object with no effect before it rapidly climbed and disappeared.

The Location

La Joya Air Base:

• Near Arequipa
• Southern Peru
• Military installation
• Restricted airspace
• Morning encounter

The Pilot

Oscar Santa Maria Huertas:

• Peruvian Air Force
• Combat pilot
• Su-22 fighter
• Ordered to intercept
• Military witness

The Object

Description:

• Balloon-like initially
• About 30 feet diameter
• Dome-shaped top
• Metallic appearance
• No visible propulsion

The Intercept

Events unfolded:

• Object spotted
• Unauthorized in airspace
• Scramble ordered
• Su-22 launched
• Direct approach

The Attack

Combat engagement:

• Pilot opened fire
• 64 rounds fired
• Direct hits observed
• No effect seen
• Object undamaged

The Chase

What followed:

• Object ascended
• Rapid climb
• To 38,000 feet
• Pilot pursued
• Could not catch

Witness Count

On the ground:

• 1,800 personnel
• Air base staff
• Clear observation
• Daylight sighting
• Multiple witnesses

Official Report

Peruvian Air Force:

• Documented incident
• Filed reports
• Acknowledged event
• Released decades later
• Official UFO case

The Pilot’s Statement

Santa Maria stated:

• Certain of hits
• Should have destroyed
• Completely ineffective
• Intelligently controlled
• Not conventional

Flight Characteristics

The object:

• Hovered initially
• Rapid acceleration
• Vertical climb
• No sonic boom
• Beyond capabilities

Government Response

Peru’s approach:

• Took seriously
• Investigated
• Documented
• Eventually released
• No explanation

International Interest

Case attracted:

• UFO researcher attention
• Government study
• Documentary coverage
• Considered credible
• Well-documented

Significance

Military pilot engagement with UFO, multiple witnesses, 64 rounds fired with no effect, official documentation.

Legacy

The Arequipa incident remains one of the most significant military UFO encounters—a trained combat pilot engaging an unidentified object with no effect before official witnesses.