US air accident investigators have today attempted to quash rumours of a light aircraft colliding with an unidentified flying object (UFO) in Alabama three and a half years ago with the release of an updated incident report.
On 23 October, 2002, at around 19:46 a Cessna 208B Caravan I freighter (N76U) operated by Mid-Atlantic Freight entered an uncontrolled descent from an altitude of 2,700ft (820m) and crashed into a swamp shortly after takeoff from Mobile Downtown airport. The fatal crash has been subject to much speculation and conspiracy theory, however, due to the pilot's unusual distress calls and unexplained red scratches found on the fuselage wreckage.
Due to pressure from enthusiasts and conspiracy theorists, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reopened its original crash investigation in October last year and has just released its revised report.
Following a full reconstruction of the aircraft from the wreckage the NTSB has concluded that there was no contact with foreign objects or other aircraft. However, the report offers plenty of fresh material for conspiracists, noting that the FBI and independent labs that carried out analysis on the "scorch" marks on the hull only matched 21 of the 34 marks with known materials and added that there was no audible record of any impact.
Lawyers representing the pilot have indicated they will challenge the NTSB report, hinting at a government cover-up either due to the presence of UFOs in the area or because the Cessna was struck by a military drone.
External links:
Read conspiracy theory blogs, or a Washington Post report into the pilot's sons' lawyers case or the NTSB report.
Source: Flight International
