Imjarvi skiers' encounter
- Date
- 7 Jan 1970
- Place
- Imjarvi, Heinola, Finland
- Record
- Curated case
- Assessment
- Contested
- Evidence strength
What was reported
Aarno Heinonen and Esko Viljo said that while skiing near Imjarvi in the late afternoon of 7 January 1970 they saw a glowing saucer descend in a reddish mist and, for a few seconds, a small being in a pale-green suit holding a black device; they felt paralysed and pulled backwards. Both went to a doctor by taxi that evening reporting illness, and Heinonen said he was unable to work for months. The case was documented by researcher Tapani Kuningas. Critics point to discrepancies between the two men's accounts and drawings and to Heinonen's many later contact claims, which damaged his credibility.
What officials concluded
No conclusion stated
No official explanation has been given.
Strongest ordinary reading
none established; inconsistencies and later contact claims weaken the testimony
Evidence profile
- Yes: Visual
- No: Infrared
- No: Radar
- No: Video
- No: Photo
- No: Film
- No: Audio
- No: Night vision
- No: Other sensor
- Yes: Civilian
- No: Military aircrew
- No: Military ground
- No: Airline crew
- No: Sensor operator
- No: Law enforcement
- No: Scientist
- No: Astronaut
- No: Intelligence official
- No: Other
- No: Light only
- No: Orb or sphere
- Yes: Disc
- No: Triangle
- No: Cylinder
- No: Cube
- No: Other shape
- Yes: Physiological
- No: Physical trace
- No: Electromagnetic
- No: Sound
- No: Silent
Outside sources
- Wikipedia (fi): Imjarven ufotapausfi.wikipedia.org
On the map
61.18° N, 26.10° E, plotted at the centre of the region named in the record
Show on the map