Over the years, Brazil has become the stage for a series of inexplicable events that have baffled scientists, ufologists, and curious minds from all over the world.
From the mystery surrounding the explosion of an unidentified flying object near the beach in Ubatuba to the abduction account made by Antonio Villas Boas, who claimed to have been kidnapped and examined by humanoid extraterrestrials while working in the fields. In this article, we will revisit three of the most emblematic cases in Brazilian ufology history: Operation Prato, The Official UFO Night, and the unforgettable Varginha Incident.
Operation Prato: The Mystery in Pará
Our journey begins in 1977, in the remote municipality of Colares, Pará, where a series of events caused panic among the local population. Mysterious lights, known as "chupa-chupa," crossed the sky and emitted beams of light that struck people, causing burns, weakness, injuries, and even symptoms of anemia. As reports increased, the Brazilian Air Force was called to investigate the case, launching Operation Prato, under the command of Captain Uyrangê Hollanda.
During the operation, the military team managed to collect a large number of photos, videos, and documents—more than two thousand pages of detailed records of strange phenomena. What impressed the most was the fact that the military themselves witnessed objects performing impossible maneuvers in the sky. However, the operation was closed in 1978, without a definitive explanation. Were the phenomena caused by will-o'-the-wisps, other natural occurrences, or was this the first evidence of extraterrestrial visits? To this day, Operation Prato remains one of the most well-documented and debated cases in Brazilian ufology.
The Official UFO Night: Encounter with the Unknown
We move forward to 1986, when Brazil was the stage for one of the biggest and most enigmatic UFO events in history: The Official UFO Night, which took place on May 19. That night, more than 20 unidentified flying objects were detected in the skies of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Minas Gerais. Air traffic controllers, civilian and military pilots, as well as Brazilian Air Force radars, recorded the presence of the UFOs.
These objects, which were up to 100 meters in diameter, performed maneuvers that defied any known technology at the time. In an attempt to intercept them, the Brazilian Air Force sent five fighter jets, but the pilots reported that the objects "played" with them, disappearing and reappearing at incredibly high speeds. The following day, the Minister of Aeronautics, Octávio Moreira Lima, surprised the country by admitting in a press conference that the events were "solid and intelligent phenomena." A rare statement of transparency, which only added to the mystery. The Official UFO Night remains one of the largest and most well-documented cases of anomalous aerial phenomena in Brazil.
Varginha Incident: The Case that Fascinates the World
Finally, we reach the most famous and controversial case in Brazilian ufology: the Varginha Incident, which took place in January 1996 in the city of Varginha, Minas Gerais. The case began when three young people spotted a humanoid creature in a vacant lot. The description of the creature was terrifying: brown skin, large red eyes, and protrusions on its head. Rumors quickly spread that the Army and Firefighters had captured this strange being.
Witnesses reported intense military activity in the region, including vehicles transporting something mysterious. Some rumors even suggest that the creature was taken to a local hospital before being transferred to secret facilities, possibly even to the United States. Although the government denied any involvement and the story was largely discredited officially, locals and ufologists argue that a covert operation took place to cover up the event. The Varginha Incident is often compared to the famous Roswell Incident in the United States and continues to fuel investigations and theories to this day.
These three cases represent only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Brazil’s rich ufological history. With documented evidence, intriguing accounts, and the fascination they still generate, these stories continue to challenge our understanding of the unknown. Brazil, with its various UFO occurrences, remains fertile ground for the mysteries involving the cosmos.
