UFO in the Bardenas Reales in 1980

Summary

In December 1980, an Air Force officer in the Bardenas Reales observed an unusual aerial phenomenon. According to the report, the object had a large central body with a powerful retropropulsion system and several smaller bodies flying in formation. The sighting occurred near the Tudela-Arguedas road, at an altitude of between 2,000 and 3,000 feet, with a heading of 020°, and a speed similar to that of a commercial aircraft. The witness noted that it left a smoke trail much wider than typical for an airplane.

The report was submitted to the Air Transport Command and declassified in 1995. Although no elements were found to justify a more restricted classification, the case remains an example of how military authorities documented unexplained sightings several decades ago.