Cecconi UFO Incident (1979)
The “Cecconi UFO Incident” of June 18, 1979, is a significant event in UFO history, involving Pilot Giancarlo Cecconi. While returning to Treviso San Angelo Airport, Italy, in his G-91R aircraft after a mission over the Ligurian Apennines, Cecconi was alerted by Istrana Airfield’s radar crew about an unidentified object displaying erratic behavior and intermittently appearing on radar.
The G-91R is a variant of the Fiat G-91, a light fighter-bomber aircraft designed and produced in Italy. It was first introduced in the late 1950s and was primarily used by the Italian Air Force, as well as several other NATO countries.
Cecconi spotted a large, black, cigar-shaped UFO, which he described as dull black, resembling a “fuel tank” with a slightly flattened top, and sporting a dome-like feature, either transparent or white, similar to a “drop of water”. The object, measuring approximately 25 feet in length and 10 feet in width, did not reflect sunlight.
Equipped with four VINTEN cameras on his plane, Cecconi attempted to capture the object from various angles. However, the UFO cleverly maintained the same relative position to his aircraft, making it challenging to photograph its complete structure. The UFO showed advanced capabilities, approaching Cecconi’s plane at about 300 miles per hour without apparent turbulence, indicating technological sophistication beyond known aerial vehicles.
The ground staff and control tower personnel at San Angelo Airfield also observed the UFO, noting its bluish trail. Despite Cecconi’s efforts, the object vanished visually and from radar screens within approximately five minutes.
In 1979, Treviso-Sant’Angelo Airport, also known as San Angelo Airfield, located near Treviso, Italy, served a dual purpose as both a civilian and military facility. During this period, it was an important base for the Italian Air Force and hosted various military aircraft, including the Fiat G-91R.
In the years following, numerous inquiries by UFO researchers were met with dismissive responses from the Italian Ministry of Defense, claiming the object was just a cylindrical balloon. This explanation was met with skepticism, considering Cecconi’s aeronautical expertise.
The incident gained public attention through UFO investigator Antonio Chiumiento’s efforts, leading to a formal request for the release of photographs and related documentation in 1985. The Ministry of Defense confirmed the authenticity of the photographs, yet Chiumiento observed significant discrepancies between these and the one he had seen in 1979, suggesting possible alterations or misrepresentation.
In September 1994, Ceconni confirmed with CISU (Centro Italiano Studi Ufologici) the authenticity of the photographs published in Epoca magazine. The case saw a resurgence of interest in August 1995 when a previously missing photograph resurfaced.
This incident remains an intriguing chapter in UFO history, marked by Cecconi’s detailed observations, photographic evidence, and the subsequent controversies and debates surrounding the nature of the object he encountered.
