In The News - Canadian Paranormal Broadcaster's Take of the Mexican UFO Incident of March 5, 2004

Thursday, May 20, 2004

Canadian Paranormal Broadcaster's Take of the Mexican UFO Incident of March 5, 2004

Hamilton, Ontario: On March 5, 2004, at approximately 17:00 hrs. Mexican time (7 p.m. Eastern, the 3 man crew of a Mexican Air Force Merlin C26A that was equipped with a FLIR Star Safire II video system and Radar AN/PS 143 Bravo Victor 3 (which has not been confirmed as yet), had an encounter of what over enthusiast UFO believers are claiming to be the first encounter ever to be acknowledged by a government anywhere.

The UFO encounter was of 3 to 11 bright objects, some sharp points of light and others like large headlights, moving rapidly in the early evening Mexican sky.

The videotape that was made available on Tuesday May 11, was filmed on March 5 by the crew using infrared equipment. The unidentified objects appeared to be at an altitude of 3,500 metres (11,480 feet), and allegedly surrounded the Air Force plane, as it conducted routine anti-drug trafficking surveillance in the skies of Campeche, on the Gulf of Mexico.

The following is the chronological breakdown of events as best reconstructed with the available data:

MARCH 5, 2004

- during the course of the surveillance mission, Major Magdaleno made a maneuver to approach unidentified traffic over Campeche airspace and requested interceptors be that interceptors be placed on alert;

- both the radio conversations between the C26A and base were being recorded and FLIR system was tracking and recording the unidentified target;

- no visual contact had been made with the unidentified target;

- as the C26A approached the unidentified traffic to make a visual identification, it suddenly, in a surprise maneuver escaped flying away at a tremendous speed making it impossible to pursue;

- moments later the unknown target returned and began following the C26A;

- within seconds, a second unidentified target started following the C26A;

- at this time, radar and FLIR images were clear and unmistakable;

- still there had been no visual contact made;

- during maneuvers by the C26A to make visual contact with the targets, more targets appeared;

- at this time Major Magdaleno Jasso requested instruction from his base;

- now there were 11 targets made a circle around the C26A and still the crew could not make visual contact;

- Major Magdaleno Jasso reported the situation to his base and said that the C26A was in Red Alert;

- Major Magdelano Jasso turned off all the lights in the aircraft, and within minutes, the 11 unidentified targets disappeared.

- The C26A returned to their base and filed a complete report.

On March 20, 2004 Jamie Mausson, a Mexican researcher and TV journalist was contacted by a high ranking officer of the Mexican Department of Defense and requested a private meeting.

The next day, March 11, Mausson met General Clemente Vega Garcia, Mexican Secretary of Defense where he was informed of the incident over the skies of Campeche on March 5.

On April 22, 2004, General Clemente Vaga, Mexican Secretary of Defence Mexican researcher and TV journalist Jamie Mausson a copy of all tracking tapes and data collected by the C26A as well as complete access to the crew of the C26A.

On Sunday, May 9 during his Mexican television show, Mausson broadcast the news of the March 5 encounter by the C26A and announced that an international press conference would be held on Tuesday May 11 at the Hotel Sevilla Palace in Mexico City at 11:00 a.m. local time (12:00 Eastern).

On the scheduled press conference, the video from the C26C FLIR infrared cameras tracking the unidentified targets was show and quickly distributed to new agencies around the world.

Star SAFIRE II sets new standards for range performance, stability and image quality. Incorporating the latest InSb focal plane array technology, Star SAFIRE II enables users to adopt standoff distances 50% greater than before, thereby increasing mission safety and stealth. With increased magnification come increased demands for stability, so FLIR has also developed new stabilization techniques to address these needs. This is accomplished through the use of an advanced five axes active stabilization system to provide precise motion correction in the fourth and fifth axes.

From a vantage point high in the sky, FLIR Systems offers a wide range of aerial cameras incorporating the latest technology in thermal imaging, television cameras, and low light imaging. These systems provide extreme long stand off performance and FLIR's advances in stabilization enable you to take full advantage. Installed on over 76 different types of rotary and fixed wing platforms, FLIR's aerial camera systems are highly regarded for their reliability, stability and superior image quality.

It is at this time the following questions should have been asked by UFO enthusiasts, researchers and other self-proclaimed experts:

Q-1: Why did the Mexican Government give the information to a UFO researcher / TV journalist (Mausson) instead of members of the scientific community for their professional evaluation of the infrared videotape and electronic data collected by the C26A?
Q-2: Why didn't the Mexican Air Force send up interceptors that were already waiting on the tarmac to assist the C26A when Major Magdelano Jasso declared a Red Alert due to the situation with the 11 unknown targets circling the C26A?

Q-3: If at the time of the Red Alert there were 11 unidentified targets, how come the aircraft's radar is supposed to have targeted 3?
Q-4: Was there any ground radar confirmation of the event from the Mexican Government, U.S. military or NORAD?

Q-5: Was there any airborne radar confirmation (Military AWAC), other than the C26A?

Q-6: If there was no collaborating ground radar, military or commercial, tracking of the unknown targets, why was the C26A targeting the unknowns on radar?

Q-7: Were the flight crew of the C26A subjected to polygraph or PSE (psychological stress evaluation) examination, and if so, who were the examiners?
Q-8: Would the Mexican Government permit the flight crew and the C26A examined by members of the international community?

TECHNICAL DATA

- Date of Encounter: March 5, 2004
- Aircraft: Merlin C26A Turbo Prop (not a jet as reported)
- Time of Encounter: 17:00 - 17:30 CDT
- Event: Anti-narcotic surveillance
- Location of Encounter: Air space Cidudad del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico (on the Gulf of Mexico)
- Altitude: 10,500 feet- Coordinates: Lat: N 18° 26.60' : Lon: W 90° 45.69
'- Sensor Equipment on Board C26A: FLIR Star Safire II video system (confirmed)
- Camera Lens: Germanio
- Radar Equipment on Board C26A: AN/PS 143 Bravo Victor 3 (unconfirmed)
- Detection Range: 50 miles

FLIGHT CREW

- Members of the 501 Aerial Squadron
- Pilot: Major Magdaleno Jasso
- FLIR Operator: Lt. Mario Adrian Vasquez
- Radar Operator: Lt. German Ramirez

WERE THESE UNKNOWN TARGETS UFO'S?

In the truest sense of the word, yes, the unknown targets are really UFO's - Unidentified Flying Objects but not necessarily from another planet.Since, to this time, there has been no other collaborating evidence to the C26A's infrared imaging and subsequent videotape and radar data, the event cannot be claimed as proof for the existence of UFO's carrying aliens from another planet.

Though the crew of the C26A stated that they believed the unknown targets could feel that they were being pursued by the C26A there seems to be a scientific explanation after all.Nuclear science researcher Julio Herrera said the unidentified targets, or blobs or light, may have been nothing more than ball lightning - glowing spheres that are little understood but often sighted near the ground during thunderstorms.

"Just as you have lightning between clouds and ground, you can also have it within the clouds and sometimes ball lightning can develop, I feel that this is one of these rare events," said Herrera, based at Mexico's National Autonomous University.

Ball lightning is an EM phenomenon and it is entirely plausible that, if the fuselage of the surveillance plane was charged electrically by contact with ice or water crystals in the clouds, orbs of ball lightning could have been attracted to it. The objects that appear to be pursuing the plane could actually be ball lightning that has been "caught" by an electromagnetic field around the aircraft, or by some other aspect of conduction science.

The Campeche coast on the Gulf of Mexico, where the objects were filmed, is Mexico's main oil and gas producing region. Oil platforms there release or burn off some of the gas they produce.

The objects were recorded flying at more than 11,000 feet over southern Campeche state using a video camera equipped with an infrared lens. Infrared equipment can only detect heat emanating from objects; it is unable to provide an image of the objects' exact form.

JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS OVER…..

Since the initial hype after the release of the infrared videotape from the C26A's FLIR and radar data of the March 5, 2004 undetermined encounter of an unknown kind, UFO enthusiasts have resurrected the strange lights that were seen over Phoenix, Arizona at 10:00 p.m. on the night of March 13, 1997 that were witnessed by several hundred people.

The witnesses reported that they saw a first " ball of light " appearing over the mountains near Phoenix. Other lights detached from this ball, and they get almost aligned with the first one, in an even fashion. Eventually, there were seven stationary lights exhibiting different and variable intensities. The whole phenomenon lasted for several minutes.

The Mexican 11 sighting, the Phoenix light sighting, Fatima and Belgium are now grouped together as examples of some really important light ball phenomenon that has no physical man-made technology explanation.

However, with the latest proclaimed UFO encounter in the skies over Mexico on March 5, 2004, UFO enthusiasts are comparing the events, which by the way happened in the month of March, now claiming an extraterrestrial connection.

Even if, through scientific research of the events of March 5, 2004 are found to be a natural phenomenon and not an extraterrestrial craft piloted by aliens, until there is unequivocal evidence that UFO's do not exist, they just might.

ABOUT ROB McCONNELL:

Rob McConnell is a broadcaster, publisher, author and researcher of the unknown.

Since 1995 Rob has been the host and executive producer of THE 'X' ZONE RADIO SHOW which investigates the world of the paranormal and the science of parapsychology. On his late night talk show, Rob has interviewed experts, skeptics and believers, including Erich von Daniken (author of Chariots of the Gods?), Dr. Edgar Mitchell (NASA Moon-Walking Astronaut), Dr. Roger Leir (alien implant expert), Derrel Simms (alien hunter), Dr. Joe Nickell (scientist), Kenny Young (psychic), Dr. Brian O'Leary (NASA Astronaut), Dr. Seth Shostak (SETI) just to name a few. The entire list of past guests can be seen at http://www.xzone-radio.com/guests.htm.

Rob's media credits include being the production consultant on the Canadian television series, "CREEPY CANADA" which is seen on CTV Travel, Discovery and OLN. Rob also was the unseen voice during season 1, and hosted a segment in season 2.

Rob's broadcasting career includes executive producer for talk programming and promotion director of a Niagara radio station.

Now Rob is heard weekly on a major Toronto AM Station and does an 'X' Zone feature weekly on an Ontario television network.

For more information about Rob McConnell, please visit The 'X' Zone website at www.xzone-radio.com.

To contact Rob McConnell:

E-mail: xzone@xzone-radio.com



Thursday, May 20, 2004 Canadian Paranormal Broadcaster's Take of the Mexican UFO Incident of March 5, 2004 Hamilton, Ontario: On March 5, 2004, at approximately 17:00 hrs. Mexican time (7 p.m. Eastern, the 3 man crew of a Mexican Air Force Merlin C26A that was equipped with a FLIR Star Safire II video system and Radar AN/PS 143 Bravo Victor 3 (which has not been confirmed as yet), had an encounter of what over enthusiast UFO believers are claiming to be the first encounter ever to be acknowledged by a government anywhere. The UFO encounter was of 3 to 11 bright objects, some sharp points of light and others like large headlights, moving rapidly in the early evening Mexican sky. The videotape that was made available on Tuesday May 11, was filmed on March 5 by the crew using infrared equipment. The unidentified objects appeared to be at an altitude of 3,500 metres (11,480 feet), and allegedly surrounded the Air Force plane, as it conducted routine anti-drug trafficking surveillance in the skies of Campeche, on the Gulf of Mexico. The following is the chronological breakdown of events as best reconstructed with the available data: MARCH 5, 2004 - during the course of the surveillance mission, Major Magdaleno made a maneuver to approach unidentified traffic over Campeche airspace and requested interceptors be that interceptors be placed on alert; - both the radio conversations between the C26A and base were being recorded and FLIR system was tracking and recording the unidentified target; - no visual contact had been made with the unidentified target; - as the C26A approached the unidentified traffic to make a visual identification, it suddenly, in a surprise maneuver escaped flying away at a tremendous speed making it impossible to pursue; - moments later the unknown target returned and began following the C26A; - within seconds, a second unidentified target started following the C26A; - at this time, radar and FLIR images were clear and unmistakable; - still there had been no visual contact made; - during maneuvers by the C26A to make visual contact with the targets, more targets appeared; - at this time Major Magdaleno Jasso requested instruction from his base; - now there were 11 targets made a circle around the C26A and still the crew could not make visual contact; - Major Magdaleno Jasso reported the situation to his base and said that the C26A was in Red Alert; - Major Magdelano Jasso turned off all the lights in the aircraft, and within minutes, the 11 unidentified targets disappeared. - The C26A returned to their base and filed a complete report. On March 20, 2004 Jamie Mausson, a Mexican researcher and TV journalist was contacted by a high ranking officer of the Mexican Department of Defense and requested a private meeting. The next day, March 11, Mausson met General Clemente Vega Garcia, Mexican Secretary of Defense where he was informed of the incident over the skies of Campeche on March 5. On April 22, 2004, General Clemente Vaga, Mexican Secretary of Defence Mexican researcher and TV journalist Jamie Mausson a copy of all tracking tapes and data collected by the C26A as well as complete access to the crew of the C26A. On Sunday, May 9 during his Mexican television show, Mausson broadcast the news of the March 5 encounter by the C26A and announced that an international press conference would be held on Tuesday May 11 at the Hotel Sevilla Palace in Mexico City at 11:00 a.m. local time (12:00 Eastern). On the scheduled press conference, the video from the C26C FLIR infrared cameras tracking the unidentified targets was show and quickly distributed to new agencies around the world. Star SAFIRE II sets new standards for range performance, stability and image quality. Incorporating the latest InSb focal plane array technology, Star SAFIRE II enables users to adopt standoff distances 50% greater than before, thereby increasing mission safety and stealth. With increased magnification come increased demands for stability, so FLIR has also developed new stabilization techniques to address these needs. This is accomplished through the use of an advanced five axes active stabilization system to provide precise motion correction in the fourth and fifth axes. From a vantage point high in the sky, FLIR Systems offers a wide range of aerial cameras incorporating the latest technology in thermal imaging, television cameras, and low light imaging. These systems provide extreme long stand off performance and FLIR's advances in stabilization enable you to take full advantage. Installed on over 76 different types of rotary and fixed wing platforms, FLIR's aerial camera systems are highly regarded for their reliability, stability and superior image quality. It is at this time the following questions should have been asked by UFO enthusiasts, researchers and other self-proclaimed experts: Q-1: Why did the Mexican Government give the information to a UFO researcher / TV journalist (Mausson) instead of members of the scientific community for their professional evaluation of the infrared videotape and electronic data collected by the C26A? Q-2: Why didn't the Mexican Air Force send up interceptors that were already waiting on the tarmac to assist the C26A when Major Magdelano Jasso declared a Red Alert due to the situation with the 11 unknown targets circling the C26A? Q-3: If at the time of the Red Alert there were 11 unidentified targets, how come the aircraft's radar is supposed to have targeted 3? Q-4: Was there any ground radar confirmation of the event from the Mexican Government, U.S. military or NORAD? Q-5: Was there any airborne radar confirmation (Military AWAC), other than the C26A? Q-6: If there was no collaborating ground radar, military or commercial, tracking of the unknown targets, why was the C26A targeting the unknowns on radar? Q-7: Were the flight crew of the C26A subjected to polygraph or PSE (psychological stress evaluation) examination, and if so, who were the examiners? Q-8: Would the Mexican Government permit the flight crew and the C26A examined by members of the international community? TECHNICAL DATA - Date of Encounter: March 5, 2004 - Aircraft: Merlin C26A Turbo Prop (not a jet as reported) - Time of Encounter: 17:00 - 17:30 CDT - Event: Anti-narcotic surveillance - Location of Encounter: Air space Cidudad del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico (on the Gulf of Mexico) - Altitude: 10,500 feet- Coordinates: Lat: N 18° 26.60' : Lon: W 90° 45.69 '- Sensor Equipment on Board C26A: FLIR Star Safire II video system (confirmed) - Camera Lens: Germanio - Radar Equipment on Board C26A: AN/PS 143 Bravo Victor 3 (unconfirmed) - Detection Range: 50 miles FLIGHT CREW - Members of the 501 Aerial Squadron - Pilot: Major Magdaleno Jasso - FLIR Operator: Lt. Mario Adrian Vasquez - Radar Operator: Lt. German Ramirez WERE THESE UNKNOWN TARGETS UFO'S? In the truest sense of the word, yes, the unknown targets are really UFO's - Unidentified Flying Objects but not necessarily from another planet.Since, to this time, there has been no other collaborating evidence to the C26A's infrared imaging and subsequent videotape and radar data, the event cannot be claimed as proof for the existence of UFO's carrying aliens from another planet. Though the crew of the C26A stated that they believed the unknown targets could feel that they were being pursued by the C26A there seems to be a scientific explanation after all.Nuclear science researcher Julio Herrera said the unidentified targets, or blobs or light, may have been nothing more than ball lightning - glowing spheres that are little understood but often sighted near the ground during thunderstorms. "Just as you have lightning between clouds and ground, you can also have it within the clouds and sometimes ball lightning can develop, I feel that this is one of these rare events," said Herrera, based at Mexico's National Autonomous University. Ball lightning is an EM phenomenon and it is entirely plausible that, if the fuselage of the surveillance plane was charged electrically by contact with ice or water crystals in the clouds, orbs of ball lightning could have been attracted to it. The objects that appear to be pursuing the plane could actually be ball lightning that has been "caught" by an electromagnetic field around the aircraft, or by some other aspect of conduction science. The Campeche coast on the Gulf of Mexico, where the objects were filmed, is Mexico's main oil and gas producing region. Oil platforms there release or burn off some of the gas they produce. The objects were recorded flying at more than 11,000 feet over southern Campeche state using a video camera equipped with an infrared lens. Infrared equipment can only detect heat emanating from objects; it is unable to provide an image of the objects' exact form. JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS OVER….. Since the initial hype after the release of the infrared videotape from the C26A's FLIR and radar data of the March 5, 2004 undetermined encounter of an unknown kind, UFO enthusiasts have resurrected the strange lights that were seen over Phoenix, Arizona at 10:00 p.m. on the night of March 13, 1997 that were witnessed by several hundred people. The witnesses reported that they saw a first " ball of light " appearing over the mountains near Phoenix. Other lights detached from this ball, and they get almost aligned with the first one, in an even fashion. Eventually, there were seven stationary lights exhibiting different and variable intensities. The whole phenomenon lasted for several minutes. The Mexican 11 sighting, the Phoenix light sighting, Fatima and Belgium are now grouped together as examples of some really important light ball phenomenon that has no physical man-made technology explanation. However, with the latest proclaimed UFO encounter in the skies over Mexico on March 5, 2004, UFO enthusiasts are comparing the events, which by the way happened in the month of March, now claiming an extraterrestrial connection. Even if, through scientific research of the events of March 5, 2004 are found to be a natural phenomenon and not an extraterrestrial craft piloted by aliens, until there is unequivocal evidence that UFO's do not exist, they just might. ABOUT ROB McCONNELL: Rob McConnell is a broadcaster, publisher, author and researcher of the unknown. Since 1995 Rob has been the host and executive producer of THE 'X' ZONE RADIO SHOW which investigates the world of the paranormal and the science of parapsychology. On his late night talk show, Rob has interviewed experts, skeptics and believers, including Erich von Daniken (author of Chariots of the Gods?), Dr. Edgar Mitchell (NASA Moon-Walking Astronaut), Dr. Roger Leir (alien implant expert), Derrel Simms (alien hunter), Dr. Joe Nickell (scientist), Kenny Young (psychic), Dr. Brian O'Leary (NASA Astronaut), Dr. Seth Shostak (SETI) just to name a few. The entire list of past guests can be seen at http://www.xzone-radio.com/guests.htm. Rob's media credits include being the production consultant on the Canadian television series, "CREEPY CANADA" which is seen on CTV Travel, Discovery and OLN. Rob also was the unseen voice during season 1, and hosted a segment in season 2. Rob's broadcasting career includes executive producer for talk programming and promotion director of a Niagara radio station. Now Rob is heard weekly on a major Toronto AM Station and does an 'X' Zone feature weekly on an Ontario television network. For more information about Rob McConnell, please visit The 'X' Zone website at www.xzone-radio.com. To contact Rob McConnell: E-mail: xzone@xzone-radio.com