Chilean Navy FLIR UFO Encounter

On November 11, 2014, a Chilean Navy helicopter (Airbus Cougar AS532) was on a daytime coastal patrol west of Santiago at approximately 4,500 feet altitude and 130 knots speed. The crew, including a captain and a technician operating a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) camera for testing, noticed an unusual object on the infrared display. The object, which appeared as a flat or slightly rounded heat source without visible wings, rotors, or exhaust plume, flew parallel to the helicopter for over eight minutes. It maintained distance while the helicopter maneuvered, then suddenly accelerated rapidly and departed. The FLIR footage clearly shows the object’s thermal signature against the cold ocean background. The case was thoroughly investigated by the Chilean Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) and the Committee for the Study of Anomalous Aerial Phenomena (CEFAA). Multiple experts, including astronomers, meteorologists, and military analysts, ruled out conventional explanations such as aircraft, drones, balloons, or meteorological phenomena. The government released the video and supporting documents publicly.