Winnipeg: Radar tracks fast targets near Air Canada flights
On July 6, 1967, radar operators near Winnipeg detected unidentified targets pacing Air Canada flights, accelerating rapidly from 800 to over 4,000 mph. Multiple echoes appeared later that evening, tracking aircraft before veering northeast, unseen by pilots.
Background
Incident Overview
On July 6, 1967 at 18:00, an Air Canada DC-9 Vanguard took off from Winnipeg, Manitoba heading east. Radar controllers detected an unexpected return nearby, flying eastward. Within 70 seconds it accelerated from 800 mph to more than 4,000 mph and disappeared from the screen near Vivian.
Further Radar Contacts
At 21:24 an operator in Kenora, Ontario reported a target moving northeast. It closed to 40 miles, then turned away and withdrew to 50 miles. At 21:35 another appeared, followed an Air Canada flight, turned northeast, and disappeared. At 21:53 a further return accompanied another aircraft before turning northeast.
Observers and Evidence
Air traffic controllers in Winnipeg and Kenora were the principal witnesses; no pilots reported visual sightings. Radar data served as the primary evidence for the high speeds and manoeuvres. No conventional explanations such as weather or false alarms fit the accelerations.
Significance
The case points to radar UAP activity close to airliners in Canada, without visual confirmation. It contributes to discussions of airspace safety and is documented in UFO chronicles.