Tehran UFO Dogfight

On the night of 18–19 September 1976, citizens of Tehran reported a bright object in the northern sky. Mehrabad Airport radar and Imperial Iranian Air Force ground control confirmed a large target. Two F-4 Phantom II jets were scrambled. The first crew reported losing all communications and instrumentation as they closed to within 25 nautical miles; the jet's systems returned to normal after turning away. A second F-4, piloted by Lieutenant Parviz Jafari, acquired the object on radar (size comparable to a Boeing 707 tanker) and visually observed a brilliant object changing colors. As Jafari attempted to arm missiles, his weapons panel and communications failed completely. A smaller bright object detached from the main craft and headed toward his aircraft; after he broke away, systems recovered. Ground radar and the aircraft's own radar tracked the objects simultaneously. The main object departed at high speed. A detailed four-page U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency report, based on direct debriefings, circulated at the highest levels of the U.S. government and assessed the witnesses and instrumentation as highly credible. The case remains unexplained in official records.