CASE HISTORY

The Coyne Helicopter UFO Incident

How a close encounter would make its way to the United Nations

On the evening of October 18th, 1973, a routine flight by a U.S. Army Reserve helicopter transformed into one of the most compelling UFO encounters on record. Known as the Coyne Helicopter Incident, this event over the skies of Mansfield, Ohio, would change the lives of 4 men for the rest of their lives.

The Flight Crew and Their Mission

The helicopter, a Bell UH-1H “Huey,” was piloted by Captain Lawrence J. Coyne, a seasoned aviator with 19 years of flying experience. Accompanying him were First Lieutenant Arrigo Jezzi, Sergeant John Healey, and Sergeant Robert Yanacsek. The crew had departed from Port Columbus International Airport around 10:30 p.m., en route to Cleveland Hopkins Airport after completing their routine flight physicals. The night was clear, with visibility extending over 15 miles, providing optimal flying conditions.

The Encounter

At approximately 11pm, while cruising at an altitude of 2,500 feet over Charles Mill Lake near Mansfield, Sergeant Yanacsek observed a red light to the east. Initially, it appeared to be moving parallel to the helicopter, but it soon became evident that the…