Disclosed

Turin-Caselle radar and pilot sighting

Date
30 Nov 1973
Place
Turin-Caselle airport, Piedmont, Italy
Record
Curated case
Assessment
Unexplained
Evidence strength
467 case pages by decade; this one falls in 1970s with 41 othersAll cases

What was reported

On the evening of 30 November 1973 Caselle control told the private pilot Riccardo Marano, on approach, of an unidentified radar return hovering about 400 m above the ground; Marano approached and described an enormous luminous sphere changing from purple to blue and garnet-red. The commander of the military side of the airport, Colonel Rustichelli, reportedly confirmed the description, and the crew and passengers of an Alitalia flight that had just left for Rome said they followed a similar light toward the Ligurian coast. The record is contemporary press reporting; no radar data or official conclusion has been released.

What officials concluded

No conclusion stated

No official explanation has been given.

Strongest ordinary reading

none established

Evidence profile

Sensors2 of 9
  • Yes: Visual
  • No: Infrared
  • Yes: Radar
  • No: Video
  • No: Photo
  • No: Film
  • No: Audio
  • No: Night vision
  • No: Other sensor
Witnessescount not stated
  • No: Civilian
  • No: Military aircrew
  • Yes: Military ground
  • Yes: Airline crew
  • Yes: Sensor operator
  • No: Law enforcement
  • No: Scientist
  • No: Astronaut
  • No: Intelligence official
  • Yes: Other
ShapeOrb or sphere
  • No: Light only
  • Yes: Orb or sphere
  • No: Disc
  • No: Triangle
  • No: Cylinder
  • No: Cube
  • No: Other shape
Effectsnone reported
  • No: Physiological
  • No: Physical trace
  • No: Electromagnetic
  • No: Sound
  • No: Silent

Outside sources

On the map

45.20° N, 7.65° E, plotted at the site

Show on the map