When An Australian Pilot Suddenly Disappeared

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1 April 2024

In October 1978, a 21-year-old pilot Frederick Valentich and his plane suddenly disappeared while flying in Australia

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The case is one of Australia's most enduring aviation mysteries, and has been the subject of several books, articles, and documentaries

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On October 21, 1978, Valentich was flying a Cessna 182L light aircraft from Melbourne's Moorabbin Airport to King Island. After 45 minutes, the plane disappeared

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Before disappearing, the pilot told Melbourne air traffic control that he was being accompanied by a strange aircraft about 300 metre above him 

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He said he couldn't identify it but it had four bright lights in a diamond formation. He also reported that his engine was running roughly

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One of the last things he said was, ''That strange aircraft is hovering on top of me again. It's hovering, and it's not an aircraft''

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Cape Otway was the last place Valentich and his aircraft was seen before he vanished, never to be heard of again

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An extensive search was conducted for Valentich and his aircraft, but no wreckage was ever found

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Investigators found that there was no evidence to support the claim that Valentich had been abducted by aliens or that he had encountered a UFO

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Some experts said the pilot experienced a spatial disorientation and lost control of the aircraft

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However, the investigators also admitted that they were unable to determine definitively what had happened to Valentich or his aircraft

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 ndtv.com