Turin-Caselle radar and pilot sighting
- Date
- 30 Nov 1973
- Place
- Turin-Caselle airport, Piedmont, Italy
- Record
- Curated case
- Assessment
- Unexplained
- Evidence strength
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
- Wikipedia: UFO sightings in Italyen.wikipedia.org
- Le Provencal, 3 December 1973 (transcription)ufologie.patrickgross.org
On the map
45.20° N, 7.65° E, plotted at the site
Show on the map