Description

The Kaikoura UFO incident in 1978 is considered one of the most well-documented and credible sightings of a UFO in modern history. It occurred on December 31, 1978, when an Argosy cargo plane operated by the New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NAC) was flying from Wellington to Christchurch. Captain Bill Startup and First Officer Bob Guard were flying the plane, and there were two other crew members and several passengers on board.

As the plane approached the Kaikoura coast, the crew noticed a series of strange lights that appeared to be following the plane. The lights were described as bright, white, and pulsating. At first, the crew thought that they were simply seeing lights from a nearby airport or fishing boats, but they soon realized that the lights were not behaving like any known aircraft or natural phenomenon.

The crew contacted air traffic control and requested information about any other planes in the area. Air traffic control reported that there were no other aircraft in the vicinity. The crew also reported the lights to the Air Force, which sent a surveillance plane to investigate.

The Air Force plane reported seeing the same lights, which appeared to be moving at high speeds and making sudden changes in direction. The crew also reported seeing a large object in the water below the lights.

The incident was investigated by the New Zealand government, and it was eventually determined that the lights were likely caused by a series of unusual weather conditions, including an unusual alignment of lights on the horizon, temperature inversions, and an unusual cloud formation known as "the lenticular cloud."

However, many people remain skeptical of the official explanation and continue to believe that the incident was a legitimate UFO sighting. The Kaikoura incident has become a famous case in the world of UFO research and continues to be studied and debated to this day.