Cagliari Elmas: Orange disc pursues helicopters
At 5:35 p.m. on October 27, 1977, an orange disc followed three Italian Army helicopters for over five minutes at Cagliari Elmas Airport, Sardinia. Military and civilian witnesses tracked it, prompting interceptor launch and high-level reports.
Background
Time and Location
The event took place on October 27, 1977 at 17:35 at Cagliari Elmas airport in Sardinia, Italy.
Observation and Pursuit
Three helicopters of the Italian army aviation were followed by an orange disc-shaped object for more than five minutes. The object was sighted and tracked by military and civilian witnesses and by the airport control tower.
Military Response
Colonel Giomaria ordered a jet fighter to take off, but it could not catch the object. Major Francesco Zoppi and his co-pilot Lieutenant Riccardelli closed to within 300 metres. There was intensive radio traffic between airport personnel, the NATO base at Decimomannu, the USS Saratoga, and several aircraft.
Official Measures
Colonel Mario d'Angelo, commander of the air force base at the airport, sent a detailed report to Defence Minister Attilio Ruffini, who ordered an investigation. The event is notable as a military UAP encounter with radar and visual confirmation.