Tehran F-4 Interceptor Incident

On the night of 18-19 September 1976, at least four civilian calls reported a bright object with flashing colored lights over northern Tehran. The Imperial Iranian Air Force scrambled an F-4 Phantom from Shahrokhi Air Base. As the first jet approached within 25 nautical miles, all communications and navigation instruments failed; they returned to base and systems recovered. A second F-4, piloted by Lieutenant Parviz Jafari, acquired radar lock on the object (size comparable to a 707 tanker) at 27 NM. The object emitted intense flashing lights in blue, green, red, and orange. As the jet closed to firing range and attempted to launch a Sidewinder missile, its weapons control panel went dead and communications failed. A smaller bright object detached from the main craft and headed directly toward the jet; the pilot took evasive action. The smaller object then returned to the larger one. Another small object descended toward the ground and was seen by ground witnesses. The main object departed at extraordinary speed. The case was documented in a detailed DIA memorandum distributed to high-level U.S. agencies, noted as 'an outstanding report' with confirmed reliable sources. No conventional aircraft or phenomena explain the simultaneous radar, visual, and electromagnetic effects.