The Belgian UFO Wave is one of the most credible and well-documented UFO phenomena in modern history. Between November 1989 and April 1990, thousands of Belgian citizens, including police officers, military personnel and civilians, reported sightings of large, triangular-shaped unidentified flying objects with bright lights. The events primarily took place around Eupen, leading to an official investigation by the Belgian Air Force and the Society for the Study of Space Phenomena (SOBEPS).
The First Sightings: November 1989
The wave of sightings began on November 29, 1989, when two Belgian police officers near Eupen reported seeing a silent, black triangular craft with bright white lights at each corner. The craft hovered at a low altitude before slowly moving away. This report was quickly followed by hundreds of similar testimonies from residents across Belgium, all describing a massive, slow-moving triangular craft with red and white pulsating lights.
Military Response: March 1990
As reports increased, the Belgian Air Force took an active interest in the phenomenon. On the night of March 30-31, 1990, multiple radar stations detected an unknown object moving erratically across Belgian airspace. Two F-16 fighter jets were scrambled to intercept the craft. However, the pilots were unable to maintain a visual lock as the UFO performed impossible maneuvers, including sudden speed changes and sharp-angle turns beyond the limits of conventional aircraft.
During the chase, the craft reportedly accelerated from 240 km/h to over 1,800 km/h in seconds without producing any sonic boom—an aerodynamically impossible feat. Despite extensive tracking, the UFO evaded both the pilots and ground radar, vanishing without a trace.
Witness Testimonies and Photographic Evidence
Over 13,500 people reported sightings during the Belgian UFO wave, with over 2,600 written statements recorded by SOBEPS. Some witnesses described the objects as having a dark, matte surface, emitting no sound and appearing far larger than conventional aircraft.
One of the most famous pieces of evidence from this period is the Petit-Rechain photograph, captured in April 1990. The image shows a triangular craft with three bright lights at its corners, but its authenticity remains debated, with some experts claiming it was a hoax while others insist it represents genuine evidence of an unknown technology.
Theories and Possible Explanations
Several theories have been proposed to explain the Belgian UFO Wave:
- Extraterrestrial Hypothesis – Some believe the sightings were evidence of alien visitors piloting advanced triangular crafts.
- Mass Hysteria and Optical Illusions – Skeptics argue that atmospheric conditions, misidentifications and psychological factors contributed to the wave of sightings.
- Stealth Technology Testing – Some researchers propose that the UFOs were experimental stealth aircraft tested over European airspace without official disclosure.
Experimental Military Aircraft – Others suggest the UFOs were top-secret, man-made aircraft, possibly part of a classified U.S. black project.
Government and Military Involvement
Unlike many other UFO cases, the Belgian government took the sightings seriously. The Belgian Air Force collaborated with civilian research groups, releasing radar data and reports, marking a rare instance of government transparency in UFO investigations.
Despite extensive investigations, no conclusive explanation has ever been given for the events of 1989-1990. The Belgian UFO Wave remains one of the most intriguing cases in UFO history, leaving open the question: What exactly was seen in the skies over Belgium?