Chicago, Illinois — November 7, 2006
On the afternoon of November 7, 2006, at approximately 4:15 p.m. CST, a group of at least dozen United Airlines employees reported witnessing an extraordinary and unexplained aerial object hovering over Gate C-17 at O’Hare International Airport — one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs. Witnesses described the craft as a dark gray, metallic, saucer-shaped object, silent and motionless for several minutes, before it vanished at high speed into the cloud cover. Wikipedia+1
🛫 The Sighting — What Witnesses Reported
The sighting began when a United ramp worker, who was preparing Flight 446 for departure to Charlotte, North Carolina, looked skyward and saw a strange object above the terminal. Soon after, pilots, mechanics, supervisors, and other airline staff gathered outside and viewed the same phenomenon. Wikipedia
Witnesses consistently described the object as:
- Metallic and saucer-shaped
- Dark gray in color
- Silent with no visible propulsion or lights
- Stationary for several minutes before departing rapidly into the clouds. WTTW Chicago
Some observers estimated the object to be between 6 and 24 feet in diameter. According to Chicago Mysteries, the disc hovered just below the heavy cloud layer — then burst upward at great speed, reportedly leaving a distinct circular hole in the cloud layer that lingered for a short time afterward. WTTW Chicago
📡 Radar and Official Response
Despite the number of professional eyewitnesses — including pilots experienced at identifying standard aircraft — there was no radar confirmation of an unidentified object over the airport. Neither the tower controllers nor radar screens showed an uncorrelated target at the time. Wikipedia
Initially, both United Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) denied having any knowledge of the incident. However, after the Chicago Tribune filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, the FAA acknowledged that a United supervisor had contacted an FAA manager in the control tower about the sighting. The FAA has maintained that there was nothing unusual on radar and attributed the event to a weather phenomenon, such as a hole-punch cloud formed under specific atmospheric conditions. Wikipedia+1
FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham Cory explained the agency’s view that unusual visual effects during certain cloud conditions can be misinterpreted, although radar data did not support the presence of a traditional aircraft. Spokesman-Review
☁️ Hole-Punch Clouds — Official Explanation
The FAA’s weather-phenomenon explanation focuses on so-called hole-punch clouds (also called fallstreak holes). These occur when ice crystals form rapidly in a supercooled cloud layer, leaving a striking circular gap. Meteorologists note that, under the right conditions, aircraft passing through such clouds can trigger this effect. WTTW Chicago
However, many witnesses — particularly those trained to recognize aircraft and atmospheric phenomena — have publicly expressed skepticism about this interpretation, noting the object’s shape, silence, and sudden movement did not match ordinary weather anomalies. Wikipedia
👨✈️ Eyewitness Credibility
What has made the O’Hare sighting stand out in UFO and unexplained phenomena circles is the number and background of the observers. The reported witnesses included:
- Airport ramp workers
- Pilots and co-pilots
- Airline mechanics
- Supervisors and managerial staff
… all trained to recognize unusual or unidentified aerial traffic around a major airport. UFO Center
One aviation mechanic, reported by the National UFO Center (NUFORC), expressed that what he saw did not resemble any conventional aircraft or known object. While the FAA did not investigate further, several witnesses were reportedly upset by the lack of official inquiry. UFO Center
📋 No Confirmed Photographic Evidence
Although some anecdotal accounts claim that photos or mobile phone videos were taken during the event, no authenticated image or video has ever been publicly released. UFO researchers and online communities occasionally discuss alleged footage, but none has been verified — and some claimed images have been debunked as unrelated or fabricated. Reddit+1
As a result, the visual evidence remains limited to witness testimony and internal recorded FAA communications, rather than clear photographic documentation.
🗞️ Media Coverage and Legacy
The Chicago Tribune’s coverage of the event — particularly reporting by Jon Hilkevitch — helped bring the incident to public attention after the initial denials by airline and federal officials. Since then, the O’Hare UFO sighting has appeared in broadcast documentaries such as UFO Hunters and segments exploring unexplained aerial phenomena. Wikipedia
Despite its controversial status, the incident is often cited as one of the most intriguing unexplained sightings of the early 21st century, due mostly to the number of credible witnesses and the high-profile location of the event.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Did the UFO show up on radar?
A: No — the FAA reports that radar did not detect any unidentified target at the time of the sighting. Wikipedia
Q: Were there official investigations?
A: The FAA declined a formal investigation, attributing the sighting to a weather phenomenon and stating there was nothing unusual on radar. Independent UFO groups, such as NARCAP, have expressed interest in deeper study. Wikipedia
Q: Has any confirmed photo or video ever surfaced?
A: No — while rumors of photos and videos circulate, none have been authenticated by credible sources and many are debunked. Reddit
🛸 Why It Still Matters
The O’Hare UFO sighting remains a topic of debate because it occurred at a major commercial airport during peak travel hours and involved trained aviation professionals. Whether interpreted as an atmospheric oddity or something unexplained, it continues to capture public interest as one of the more unusual reported aerial phenomena in modern history.
🎬 Inspired Film: “UFO” (2018)
The O’Hare airport sighting has also inspired popular culture and dramatic retellings. One notable film loosely based on the incident — blending mystery, drama, and speculative fiction — is UFO (2018).
Movie Title: UFO
Year: 2018
Runtime: 1 hr 29 min
Rated: PG-13
Genres: Sci-Fi · Mystery · Drama
Starring: Gillian Anderson, Ella Purnell, David Strathairn, Alex Sharp, Ben Beatty
The film follows a young man who was haunted by a childhood UFO sighting and, as an adult, begins connecting a series of mysterious sightings at U.S. airports. A corrupt federal agent pursues him, leading to a deeper investigation of unexplained aerial phenomena. While UFO takes dramatic liberties and is a fictionalized narrative, it draws directly on the themes and questions raised by the O’Hare sighting — namely, the possibility that multiple unexplained aerial events occur near major aviation hubs and that official responses may be incomplete or evasive.
You can watch UFO for free (with ads) on Tubi:
👉 https://tubitv.com/movies/543890/ufo
Featuring compelling performances and atmospheric storytelling, the movie has helped bring broader public attention back to the O’Hare incident — illustrating how unexplained events can inspire both curiosity and creative interpretation.