Australian civilian pilot whose Cessna 182 disappeared over Bass Strait on October 21, 1978 while he radioed Melbourne flight service describing an unidentified craft maneuvering around him. Neither aircraft nor pilot has been recovered.
Frederick Valentich was an Australian pilot who vanished without a trace in 1978 while flying a Cessna light aircraft over the Bass Strait. During his final, chilling radio transmission, he reported being orbited by an anomalous, metallic aircraft with green lights, concluding with the famous statement that it was not an aircraft. Valentich's key contribution to UAP history is the terrifying audio recording of his encounter and subsequent disappearance, which remains an unsolved aviation mystery. His disappearance sparked massive public interest and is frequently cited as a tragic example of the potential hostility or extreme hazard associated with UAP. The case remains officially unexplained by the Australian government and aviation authorities.