The Disc at Gate C-17

On November 7, 2006, a metallic disc hovered silently over Gate C-17 at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Aviation professionals watched in disbelief. Then it shot straight up, punching a perfect hole through the cloud layer. United Airlines said nothing happened.

The Sighting

November 7, 2006:

• 4:15 PM
• Gate C-17
• United Airlines ramp
• Multiple witnesses
• Aviation professionals

The Witnesses

Who saw it:

• United Airlines pilots
• Mechanics
• Ramp workers
• Management
• All trained observers

The Object

Description:

• Metallic disc
• Dark grey
• 6-24 feet diameter
• Hovering silently
• Rotating slowly

The Location

Gate C-17:

• Concourse C
• United Airlines
• Busy terminal
• Daytime
• Clear view

The Hover

What it did:

• Stationary
• Low altitude
• Several minutes
• No sound
• Watched by many

The Departure

How it left:

• Shot straight up
• Tremendous speed
• Through cloud layer
• Left visible hole
• Witnesses stunned

The Hole

Physical evidence:

• Circular opening
• In overcast layer
• Visible briefly
• Blue sky through it
• Then closed

Initial Response

What happened:

• Witnesses reported
• To supervisors
• United management
• FAA contacted
• Confusion

United Airlines Response

Corporate reaction:

• Denied initially
• Then admitted reports
• No official statement
• Told witnesses silence
• No investigation

FAA Response

Government position:

• Initially no radar return
• Then admitted reviewing
• “Weather phenomenon”
• No investigation
• Case closed

The Coverup

What witnesses faced:

• Told not to discuss
• Job implications
• Media inquiry only
• FOIA required
• Reluctant disclosure

Chicago Tribune

Breaking the story:

• Jon Hilkevitch
• January 2007
• Made it public
• International news
• United forced response

Aviation Significance

Why important:

• Busiest airspace
• Professional witnesses
• Near runway
• Safety issue
• Should investigate

The Pilot

Key witness:

• United pilot
• Saw from cockpit
• Reported to tower
• Detailed account
• Professional observer

Tower Response

ATC reaction:

• No radar contact
• Many verbal reports
• Ground witnesses
• Nothing on scope
• “Nothing there”

NARCAP Investigation

Scientific study:

• National Aviation Reporting Center
• Full investigation
• Witness interviews
• Technical analysis
• Credible event

Significance

Multiple aviation professionals witnessing a UFO at one of the world’s busiest airports with physical evidence (cloud hole).

Legacy

O’Hare proved UFOs don’t avoid major airports—and that airlines and government agencies will deny what their own employees clearly saw.