Brady, MT: UFO triggers missile countdown
A missile officer at Malmstrom AFB's Romeo Flight observed a bright object hovering over Romeo-29, causing the ICBM to initiate countdown twice despite inhibit attempts. The object departed rapidly as electronics suffered surge damage.
Background
Incident
At 21:00, an officer of the 564th Strategic Missile Squadron at the Romeo Flight Alert Facility near Brady, Montana noticed alarms. A security team saw a large, brightly glowing object hovering over the Romeo-29 launch facility.
Missile Interference
The missile suddenly began a countdown. The officer activated the inhibitor, which stopped the system, but it restarted spontaneously into launch mode. An incorrect code prevented a launch. It later emerged that ground electronics had been damaged by a power surge.
Reaction and Observation
The object climbed vertically at high speed. An F-106 interceptor tried in vain to reach it. Radar at Malmstrom AFB tracked the object. There was no successful approach.
Significance
The case points to interactions with nuclear weapons, similar to other Malmstrom events. The launch officer's testimony highlights the technical malfunctions (Eberhart, p. 770; Hastings, 2014).