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https://preview.redd.it/nknoj0dvk9cg1.jpg?width=1077&format=pjpg&auto…

The Cangzhou (沧州) incident of October 19th 1998 is one of the best recorded UFOs in China. It happened at 11.30pm. Several military aircraft were sent in pursuit of an unknown radar source that had passed over the airbase and was first seen as a bright light with a circular outline that later was seen to be several lights. The planes came close enough at 2km to see the shape of the object and then followed it as it rose above them. They lost it at 12000m in altitude as it continued to rise to an estimated 20000m. There were many witnesses on the ground to this object (as many as 160 by other accounts). Many later reports were added to this initial account, but there may be some confusion with other events at the same time such as the naked eye comet C/1998 M1 LINEAR that was visible also during that time (many of the other witnesses refer to a “broom star”).

The photograph is from the Hebei Daily from 30th October (many thanks to 韩谦心 - Han qianxin – for helping me get that). The Hebei Daily is more or less a government newspaper, so the article can largely be considered as officially approved. Over the following years there were quite a few more articles and interviews as well as TV documentary pieces done on the incident. Later interviews with the pilot expanded on the nature of the light beams and speculations about the means of propulsion.

Chatgtp’s translation of this rather breathless article is the following:

\## \*\*Hebei Daily (河北日报 / HEBEI RIBAO)\*\*

\*\*Issue No. 17237 (General Issue No. 17-1)\*\*

\*\*October 30, 1998 (Friday)\*\*

\*\*Rural Calendar: Ninth Month, 11th Day\*\*

Published by Hebei Daily Press — \*\*Evening Edition\*\*

\---

\## \*\*Aircraft Chase a UFO!\*\*

\### \*\*A startling night-time scene in the skies over Cangzhou\*\*

\*By Chen Li\*

At about 11 p.m. on the night of October 19, many people noticed something very unusual. For the Air Force stationed at a certain flight-test training center near Cangzhou, the situation was even more extraordinary. Deputy flight commander Li Ming and flight squadron commander Hu Shaoheng judged that an accident might be occurring. They had spotted an unidentified flying object (UFO) intruding into restricted airspace, and fighter aircraft pursued it to an altitude of 12,000 meters.

In the deep autumn skies of northern China, stars were scattered across the heavens. A sudden red signal flare cut through the air, and the normally quiet airfield instantly became tense. Pilots hurriedly donned flight gear and prepared to scramble. Ground crews refuelled and re-inflated the aircraft tyres, while maintenance personnel removed protective covers. After more than five daytime sorties, another night mission was now underway. The duty officers in the command post were busy issuing instructions, while others sorted documents and prepared to relay information to higher command.

\---

\### \*\*Radar alarms\*\*

“Woo!… Woo!… Woo!…”

Radar alarms sounded.

Operators quickly located a target on the glowing radar screen. Soon after, three additional radar stations also reported: there was an object moving in the air, and the target was passing directly over the airfield, moving rapidly toward the northeast. At the same time, ground service personnel working on the airfield noticed a bright point in the sky. At first it looked like a star, but then it split into two rows of lights, one red and one white. The two rows kept rotating and gradually grew larger, resembling a flattened mushroom. Beneath it appeared rows of lights, one of which was brighter and remained steadily illuminated, shining downward toward the ground. “What is that?” Commander Li immediately became alert. He ordered the situation to be clarified and reported upward. The aviation authorities confirmed that no civilian aircraft were passing through the airspace, and nearby brother units had completed training hours earlier.

“It’s very likely an intruding aircraft!” Based on a soldier’s instincts and experience, Commander Li decided to place the unit on combat readiness.

\---

\### \*\*Scramble\*\*

At 11:30 p.m., after receiving clearance from higher command, aircraft lifted off and climbed rapidly into the night sky, holding at 1,500 meters.

“Woo!” - Another radar alert sounded. People on the airfield looked up in unison. A large orange-colored fireball shot across the sky—the signal that the aircraft had visually acquired the target. A thunderous roar followed as the fighter accelerated, its long flame trailing behind like a sharp sword stabbing into the night sky, vanishing rapidly among the stars.

\---

\### \*\*Close encounter\*\*

When Deputy Commander Li and Squadron Commander Hu closed in on the target according to guidance direction, altitude, and speed, the scene they saw was exactly as previously described:

A round object, dome-shaped on top, flat on the bottom. Beneath it were rows of lights emitting downward beams. Along the side was a single row of red lights. The entire object was bright red.

“Get closer!” Commander Li ordered. The throttle was pushed forward, and the aircraft accelerated, increasing speed to 4,000 km/h. The afterburners ignited, and the aircraft surged forward. As the fighter climbed to 3,000 meters, the target suddenly appeared directly above the aircraft. Clearly, the object’s speed was far greater than that of the jet. Without hesitation, the two pilots rolled the aircraft inverted, dove, and then climbed again to pursue. The object followed along. The aircraft suddenly accelerated again. But the target was still far ahead.

\---

\### \*\*Unreachable\*\*

At 12,000 meters the object had already climbed to 20,000 meters. At this point, the aircraft’s instrument warnings began to sound. Commander Li decisively ordered a return to base, while ground radar continued tracking and monitoring. When two newer fighter jets prepared to take off in pursuit, the object suddenly disappeared.

\---

\### \*\*What was it?\*\*

So what exactly was this “UFO”?

Was it truly one of the foreign UFOs frequently reported by international media? Before this incident, during the night, no fewer than eight radar stations had detected the object’s movement. However, subsequent field searches and instrument analyses failed to confirm its nature. Up to now, no similar objects have ever been recorded taking off from this airfield, nor landing. It appeared suddenly, departed abruptly, came and went without a trace, remaining elusive and hidden. There are no reports indicating that it was a rotating craft. At present, relevant authorities are investigating and studying this mysterious flying object incident.

According to estimates, the number of people who witnessed the UFO that night in the local area was approximately 140.