Summary
The Belgian UFO Wave began on the evening of 29 November 1989 near Eupen, eastern Belgium, when witnesses, including police officers, reported unusual lights and a large, slow-moving triangular object in the night sky. Similar reports subsequently occurred across Belgium and continued for several months. Many witnesses described large triangular or delta-shaped objects with bright lights at their corners, sometimes accompanied by a central red light. During the night of 30–31 March 1990, unusual radar contacts prompted the Belgian Air Force to scramble two F-16 fighter aircraft. The pilots obtained intermittent radar contacts but did not visually identify an object. Despite extensive investigation, the various sightings collectively known as the Belgian UFO Wave did not receive a single definitive explanation.
Additional Notes
The Belgian UFO Wave continued from November 1989 into the spring of 1990 and generated thousands of reported observations. One of the best-known episodes occurred on 30–31 March 1990, when two Belgian Air Force F-16s were dispatched following reports and radar contacts. Although intermittent radar targets were recorded, the pilots did not obtain visual confirmation. Some later analyses suggested that at least part of the radar data could have resulted from atmospheric effects or radar artifacts. The famous Petit-Rechain photograph associated with the wave was later claimed by its creator to have been a hoax. - Thousands of observations were reported during the Belgian UFO Wave. Approximately 2,600 written witness reports are commonly cited, while much higher figures have been given for the total number of reported observations. The exact number of individual witnesses is therefore uncertain.
The Location Today
The Belgian UFO wave covered numerous towns and roads, particularly around Eupen, rather than one fixed location. The reported observation areas are now ordinary urban and rural settings. Some public streets can be visited, but individual sighting positions may include private buildings or land; no single preserved incident site is established.
- Environment
- Village / Rural Area, Road
- Time of Day
- Night
- Evidence Level
- Official Record
- Visiting the Location
- Limited
- Ownership of the Location
- Mixed