Berwyn Mountain UFO incident
From the UAP Encyclopedia, the open encyclopedia of UFO and UAP history · 🛸 Case
Contents 4
| Type | Case |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Berwyn Mountain incident, Roswelsh |
The Berwyn Mountain UFO incident refers to a loud bang and bright lights reported in the Berwyn Mountains of north Wales on the evening of 23 January 1974. Some ufologists later claimed that a UFO had crashed and been recovered in secret, earning it the tabloid nickname "the Roswelsh incident". Ministry of Defence files and scientific studies attribute it to an earthquake and a bright meteor.[1][2]
The event
Residents around Llandrillo heard a huge bang and saw a brilliant light in the sky. A search and rescue team from RAF Valley was sent out that night, and police investigated, since it was not at first clear that the shaking was an earthquake.[1][2]
Explanations
The Institute of Geological Sciences (now the British Geological Survey) recorded a magnitude 3.5 earthquake at about 8:38 p.m., felt across north Wales and as far as Formby, near Liverpool. A crash causing such a shock would have left an obvious crater, which was never found.[1] Research for an astronomical society found that a bright fireball was visible over most of the UK that night, descending from about 120 to 35 kilometres before breaking up over Manchester.[2] Some of the lights may also have been "earthquake lights".[1]
In May 1974 junior RAF minister Brynmor John wrote to a Welsh MP that the phenomena could well have been caused by a meteor burning up before it reached the ground, and noted reports of an earth tremor and a landslide at 8:32 p.m.[2] Declassified MoD files released by the National Archives later showed that this remained the official view, though some witnesses wrote that they were certain something had come down.[2]
Legacy
The case has been featured on television, including a 2017 Ancient Aliens episode suggesting wreckage was taken to RAF Rudloe Manor, and a 2021 segment on BBC One's The One Show.[1]
References
- Berwyn Mountain UFO incident — Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · archived copy
- "Released files cast light on famous Welsh 'UFO' sighting", WalesOnline · walesonline.co.uk · archived copy
This page was last edited on 31 October 2026. Articles are written in our own words from the sources listed under References; disputed claims are attributed to the people who made them.
No discussion yet.