Baltic Sea: Red lights pursue Polish fishing boats
Two Polish fishing boats experienced radar and TV failures off Hel peninsula when bright red lights appeared, pursued one vessel, and caused physical symptoms in the crew. Equipment resumed normal function after the encounter.
Background
Incident
On August 23, 1979 at 20:15, two boats belonging to the Szomborg family, Hel-125 and Hel-127, were about 46 miles off the Hel Peninsula in Poland on the Baltic Sea. The radar and television reception suddenly failed. Lucjan Szomborg on the Hel-127 saw two glowing red lights in the air, less than a mile away.
Observations
A larger pulsating light appeared 1,500 feet ahead. The red lights, apparently attached to a dark object, approached silently. A white light emerged, whereupon the smaller lights disappeared. The pulsating light flashed irregularly and produced strong vibrations. Szomborg steered closer; the red light placed itself directly in his path three times, matching his manoeuvres.
Impact
Crew members suffered nervousness, severe headaches, chest pain, and nausea. Navigator Henryk Elwart was in pain from the vibrations. Szomborg felt paralysis and temporary blindness, but managed to warn his father on the Hel-125. All the equipment on board failed. After 20 minutes the red object withdrew; the boats returned safely to Hel at 4:00, with their equipment working again.
Aftermath
Doctors, neurologists, and psychiatrists examined the crew without finding any physical cause and prescribed sedatives. The Polish navy barred them from fishing for 3 weeks. (Source: Eberhart, p. 913)