REPORT ON THE OBSERVATION OF UFOs DURING THE NIGHT OF MARCH 30-31, 1990
Report written by the secretarial staff, Belgian Air Force

Click here for the French Version

1.Introduction
a. This report gives an overall view of the reports from the concerned Air Force units and of the reports from ocular witnesses of the gendarmerie patrols, about the unknown phenomena watched in the air space (hereafter called UFOs), south of the axis Brussels- Tienen, during the night of March 30-31,1990.
b. The observations, visual and radar, were of such a nature that the take off of two F-16 of the 1 J Wing has been decided, in order to identify these UFOs.
c. This report has been established by Major Lambrechts, VS/3 Ctl-Met 1.

2. Context.
Since the beginning of December 1989, strange phenomena have been regularly noticed in the Belgian air space. The Air Force has at its disposal several ocular witnesses, most of them having been informed by the gendarmerie. Actually the Air Force radar stations could not confirm these sightings up to March 30-31, and the presence of the UFOs could never be established by the fighters which were sent out.
The Air Force staff has come up with several hypotheses about the origin of these UFOs. The presence or the testing of B-2 or F-117 A (stealth), RPV (Remotely Piloted Vehicles), ULM (Ultra Light Motorised) and AWACS in the Belgian air space during the incidents can be excluded. The cabinet of the Ministery of Defense has been informed about these discoveries.
In the meantime SOBEPS (Societe Belge d'Etude des Phenomenes Spatiaux = Belgian UFO Investigation) got in touch with the MLV, requesting backing in its inquiries about this phenomenon. This request has been accepted, and after that the Air Force has regularly cooperated with this society.

3. Chronological summary of the events during the night of March 30-31, 1990.
Note: local time.
March 30th
23 h 00: The supervisor responsible (MC) for the Glons CRC (Control Reporting Center) receives a phone call from Mr. A. Renkin, gendarmerie MDL, who certifies to see, from his home at Ramillies, three unusual lights towards Thorembais-Gembloux. These lights are distinctly more intense than stars and planets, they don't move and are located at the apexes of an equilateral triangle. Their color is changing: red, green and yellow.
23 h 05: The Glons CRC asks the gendarmerie of Wavre to send a patrol at this place in order to confirm this sighting.
23 h 10: A new call from Mr. Renkin points out a new phenomenon: three other lights move towards the first triangle. One of these lights is far brighter than the others. The Glons CRC records an unidentified radar contact, about 5 km north of the Beauvechain airport. The contact moves at about 25 knots towards the west.
23 h 28: A gendarmerie patrol including, among others, Captain Pinson, is on the premises and confirms Mr. Renkin's sightings. Captain Pinson describes the observed phenomenon as follows: the bright points have the dimension of a big star; their color changes continually. The prevailing color is red; then it changes in blue, green, yellow and white, but not always in the same order. The lights are very bright, as if they were signals: this enables to distinguish them from stars.
23 h 30 - 23 h 45: The second set of lights have drawn closer to the first observed triangle. In their turn, after a series of erratic moves, they also start forming a triangle.
In the mean time the Glons CRC observes the phenomenon on radar.
23 h 49 - 23 h 59: The Semmerzake TCC/RP (Traffic Center Control/ Reporting Post) confirms a clear radar contact at the position as pointed out by the Glons CRC.
23 h 56: After prerequisite coordination with the SOC II, and since all conditions are fulfilled to make the QRA take off, the Glons CRC gives the scramble order to the 1 J Wing.
23 h 45 - 00 h 15: The bright points are still observed clearly from ground. Their respective position does not change. The whole formation seems to move slowly in comparison with the stars. The visual witnesses on the ground notice that the UFOs send occasional brief, intense luminous signals.
Two weaker luminous points are also observed, direction Eghezee. Those, as the others, also display brief and erratic moves.

March 31:
00 h 05: Two F-16, QRA of J Wing, AL 17 and AL 23, take off. Between 00 h 07 and 00 h 54, under control of the CRC.
Nine interception attempts are undertaken by the fighters. The planes have several brief radar contacts on the targets designated by the CRC. In three cases, the pilots managed to lock on the target during a few seconds, which, each time, induced a drastic change in the comportment of the UFOs. In no case, the pilots have had visual contact with the UFOs.
00 h 13: First lock on the target designated by the CRC. Position: "on the nose" 6 NM (Nautical Miles), 9000 feet, direction: 250. The target speed changes suddenly from 150 to 970 knots, altitude coming down from 9000 to 5000 feet, then up to 11000 feet, and, shortly after, down to ground level. From this results a "break lock" after some seconds, the pilot losing the radar contact. The Glons radar informs, at the moment of the break lock, that the fighters are above the target position.
About 00 h 19 - 00 h 30: The Semmerzake TCC as well as the Glons CRC have lost contact with the target. From time to time a contact appears in the area, but they are too brief to have a clear track. In the meantime, the pilots contact the radio of the civilian air traffic on VHF, in order to coordinate their moves with the Brussels TMA. The radio contact on UHF is maintained with the Glons CRC.
00 h 30: AL 17 has a radar contact at 5000 feet, 20 NM away Beauvechain (Nivelles), position 255. The target moves at very high speed (740 knots). The lock-on lasts during 6 seconds, and, at the break lock, the jamming signal appears on the scope.
About 00 h 30: The ground witnesses see the F-16 pass along 3 times. During the third pass, they see the planes turning in circles at the center of the large formation initially seen. At the same time, they notice the disappearance of the smaller triangle, while the brightest, western point of the large triangle moves very fast, probably up. This point emits intense red signals, in a repetitive way, during its manoeuvre. The two other points of the large triangle disappear shortly after. The bright points above Eghezee are no longer visible, and only the western brightest point of the triangle can be observed.
00 h 32: The Glons and Semmerzake radars have a contact at 110 / 6 NM distance from Beauvechain, which heads for Bierset at 7000 feet and at very high speed.s : The registered speeds go from 478 to 690 knots. The contact is lost above Bierset. The Maastricht (Netherlands) radar control center has had no contact with this UFO.
00 h 39 - 00 h 41: The Glons CRC mentions a possible contact at 10 NM from the planes, altitude 10000 feet. The pilots have a radar contact at 7 NM. Again the target accelerates from 100 to 600 knots. The lock on lasts only a few seconds, and the planes as well as the CRC lose contact.
00 h 47: The Beauvechain RAPCON mentions a contact on its radar, at 6500 feet altitude, position distance from Beauvechain: 160 / 5 NM. The Glons CRC has also a contact at the same position. This one is observed up to 00 h 56.
00 h 45 - 01 h 00: Several attempts are undertaken to intercept the UFOs. The planes register only a few brief radar contacts. The ground observers see the last UFO disappear towards Louvain-la- Neuve (NNW).
Around 01 h 00, the UFO has completely disappeared.
01 h 02: AL 17 and AL 23 quit the frequency of the Glons CRC and go back to their base.
01 h 06: The gendarmerie of Jodoigne mentions to the Glons CRC that it has just observed a similar phenomenon to the one observed by Mr. Renkin at 23 h 15.
01 h 10: Landing of AL 17.
01 h 16: Landing of AL 23.
01 h 18: Captain Pinson, who in the meantime has gone to the Jodoigne gendarmerie, describes his observation as follows: four luminous white points at the apexes of a square, the center of which is Jodoigne. The UFO seen towards Orp-Jauche (SW of Jodoigne) was the brightest and had a yellow-red color. The luminous points moved with jerky and short moves.
About 01 h 30: The UFOs lose their luminosity and seem to disappear in four different directions.

4. General information.
a/ Meteo. The data mentioned by the Air Force Wing Meteo regarding the concerned area and during the night of March 30-31, 1990, are the following:
Visibility: 8 to 15 km with clear sky. Wind at 10000 feet: 50/60 knots. A slight temperature inversion at ground, and another, also slight, at 3000 feet. These data are confirmed in Captain Pinson's report. He mentions also that the stars were clearly visible.
b/ Because of lack of appropriate material, the ground observers could not make any photo or film of the phenomenon.
c/ The UFO observed with a telescope is described as a kind of sphere, a part of which is very luminous. A triangular shape was seen as well

5. Interesting points.
a/ This is the first time a radar contact has been made, in corrrelation with different sensors of the Air Force (CRC, TCC, RAPCON, EBBE and F-16 radar), and in the same area as visual observations. This has to be explained by the fact that the March 30-31 UFOs have been noticed at +/- 10000 feet altitude, whereas in the former cases there was always talk of visual contacts at very low altitude.
b/ The visual evidence, on which this report is partially based, come from gendarmes on duty, whose objectivity cannot be questioned.
c/ The UFOs, as soon as seen by the F-16 radar in the "Target Track" mode (after interception), drastically changed their parameters. The speeds measured at that time and the altitude shifts exclude the hypothesis according to which planes could be mistaken for the oberved UFOs. The slow moves during the other phases differ from the behaviour of planes as well.
d/ The fighter pilots never have had visual contact with the UFOs. This can be explained by the changes of luminous intensity, and even the disappearance of the UFOs, when the F-16 arrived in the neighbourhood of the place where they were observed from the ground.
e/ The 'optical illusion' hypothesis, confusion with planets, or any other meteorological phenomenon, is in contradiction with the radar observations, especially the 10000 feet altitude and the geometrical position of the UFOs between themselves. The geometrical formation tends to prove a program.
f/ Although the first observation of the slow motion of the UFOs has been made roughly in the same direction and with the same speed as the wind, its direction differs by 30 degrees from the direction of the wind (260 degrees instead of 230 degrees). The hypothesis of sounding balloons is very improbable. The UFOs altitude during all this phase remained 10000 feet, whereas the sounding balloons go on higher and higher, and burst at around 100000 feet. It is difficult to explain the bright lights and changes of color with such balloons. It is also improbable that balloons stay at the same altitude during more than one hour, while keeping the same position between themselves. In Belgium, during the radar observation, there was no meteorological inversion in progress. The hypothesis that it could be balloons must be absolutely dismissed.
g/ Though speeds greater than the sound barrier have been measured several times, no 'sound boom' has been noticed. No explanation can be given for that either.
h/ Though the different ground witnesses have effectively pointed out eight points in the sky, the radars registered only a single contact each time. The points have been seen at a sufficient distance from one another for them to be seen by the radars as several objects. No plausible explanation can be put forward.
i/ The hypothesis of air phenomena resulting from projection of holograms must be excluded too - laser projectors should have been normally observed by the pilots. Moreover, a hologram cannot be detected by radar, and a laser projection can be seen only if there is a screen, like clouds for example. In this case the sky was clear, and there was no significant temperature inversion. (end of report)

This is the transcript of the exchanges between the pilots and the ground controller during the interception of UFOs over Belgium, night 30-31 March 1990 (TIME is GMT).

30/03/90 QRA(I) SCRAMBLE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIME C P ITEMS TAD 465 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
2207
C Loud & clear how me
P Reading you 5, flight level 90
C Task VID check armament safe
P Safe
C For your info, contact at your bearing 310 range is 15
P 310, 15, and confirm it's still on FL 90
C checking
2207:30
P Bravo reading you 5
C Bravo 5 as well. No
C No height on the contact for the moment
P Both levelling off FL 90
C Roger and both starboard 310
P OK, SB 310
C Last altitude on the contact is FL 210
C Keep on turning, roll out 320
P 320
2208
C 320, 17 miles. And for the moment maximum level 10000ft
P Steady 320
C Roger 330, 5 to 10 right range is 15
Possible altitude 10000ft
P Steady at 10000. No contact
2209
C Contact 330 range 10. 11000ft
Starboard 330
P Steady 330
C 330. 5 right range is 9
P No contact keep on taking
C 345 range 7. Reduce speed. Slow moving
P Roger, slow moving
C Still at 10000ft. Bearing 345 range 5
P Confirm altitude
2210
C Last altitude 10000ft. Check 10 left range is 3.
Left side 2 miles. No altitude. Passing overhead
P No contact
C Just below you
P Say again
C Just below you now. Both vector 090.Contact is 090 range 2
When steady check 090 range 3. Slow moving.
Inside turn 4 Nm, 060, 3.
P One blinking light just in front of you, do you see it,
just below you. An orange one.
C Range is 3, 060, 3.
P ... heading 180. Roger reversing 180
You have contact on me MEEL. Roger contact on you.
If you reverse 180, on your nose 1 mile. It should be
1 o'clock for you.Blinking orange light.It's on the ground
P Efflux, you still have the contact.
C Contact for the moment 020, 15
P Confirm 020
C 020, 5 miles
P See the blinking light I mean
unreadable....flash
C 030, 6 miles
P Contact on the ground seems to be 1 light
C Another contact now 360, 10 miles
P 360, 10
2213
C Altitude 11000ft, 350, 11 miles
P I have a contact 9000 heading 250 at 970 knots
C Possibly your target
P One contact on the nose 9000ft speed 310
C Range is 6?
P Eddy do you confirm contact
I have the same in B 15 now unreadable
C Contact is at 3 miles now. On the nose 3
P Contact is coming in and out
C Roger and now... 2miles Right inside turn, level 1 mile
2214
Expedite right, roll out 130
P unreadable. 130
C 140 range 3
P Confirm heading efflux
C 130, 120 even. And continue roll out 180
He's now 170,4. Check camera on. 160, 3.
P Camera on
I've a possible contact now at 550 knots in C. 6 alt 10000
C Just overhead
2215
If possible take a maximum of pictures.
P May I suggest you keep the HUD, I keep...
C At your 6 o'clock 2
P unreadable
P Efflux, give a new heading
C Roll out 360, 360, 2. unreadable
Continue SB 030
P 030
C He's now 050, 3. Altitude 105. Keep on turningtowards 090
P Steady 090
C 090 on the nose 2
P One a/c passing below. Efflux is it possible ?
C At what altitude ?
P I see it efflux
C On the nose 2 miles
P you see it, just below me now
Efflux you have a new heading
C South, 2
P Say altitude
C FL 105. Snap 130. 130, 3. Last alt. reported 10000ft
On the nose 2
P come in attack
C Past the contact now. Altitude is 10000ft
P I'm at 9000ft
C Still no contact?
P " " " !
Heading please
C 270, 2
P Confirm 260
2219
C 270
2220
P Roll out 270. Steady 270. 10000ft
C No more contact for the moment
P MEEL you switch 135 05 go
C Can you contact Brussels on 127.15
P 127.15, go
Efflux, confirm new heading
2221
C Keep on turning right 090
P Turning left 090. Efflux steady east now
C Roger, maintain
P Positive contact as well
C For the moment no more contact on the scope
2222
P No contact on the scope as well
Check fuel. unreadable
Possible contact at 19 miles 800 knots h 350
2223
3000ft // Efflux confirm
one contact at 5 miles, left side, speed fast
C No contact for the moment
P 4 miles to the left
C Clear to investigate
P Investigating. Rolling out now 034
2224
Brussels is calling. No contact.
C Traffic approaching from 320 range 15, 9000ft.
Possible contact bearing 270 range 12.
Starboard turn
2225
P Turning right 270
This contact seems to be civilian traffic
P Say again Efflux
C Contact is civilian traffic
2226
P Rolling out 277
C Roger, maintain
17 from efflux
P Come in efflux
C Did you see in the previous investigation...
P I had a kind of flashing light on the nose 5 miles
C And this light was coming from the south?
2227
P This light is steady
C When did you pass over the light, give me a top
P Turning left to pass overhead at 10000ft and give you the
coordinates
Just passing overhead the light
C Roger
P Coordinates : 50.32.08
04.11.08
Reversing east, 10000ft
C Roger
C Possible contact bearing 020 12 miles
P 12 miles looking out
C High speed roll out 040
P 040
C Heading is 115 Starb 060
P One contact on nose 10 miles
C That's the target. No alt on him for the moment
P Contact in C 12 MEEL, at 5000ft. 740 knots
Good contact again. Investigating
One contact on the nose 7 miles
C Chear to investigate, check armament safe
2231
P Sweet and safe
C Passing overhead BE for the moment
P Lost contact now, he's moving very fast
C That's affirm
High speed for the moment
P One contact on the nose 6 miles, speed to 100 knots
C 080, 10 miles. Heading is 120
P 120 confirm
C Affirmative
2232
C Last alt. reported 10000ft
070, 10 miles
P 070, 10 confirm
Rolling out 070. Altitude 7000ft
Lost contact more info efflux
C Lost contact as well. It should be 090, 10
Roll out 100
2233
P 100
C Normally on the nose range 15
You have contact
2234
P No contact
C 095 Range 18
17, both starboard 310
P SB 310
Fuel 044
C 17 check playtime left
P Playtime left 15 minutes
P 17 steady 310
C Roger 17. Maintain hdg for the moment
One civilian traffic 315 range is 12 at 5000ft in the TMA
2238
P Looking out
Contact at 6000ft slow moving at C
C It's civilian traffic. Passing 2 o'clock 5 miles
5000ft, check 310, 12 miles possible contact
2239
P 10 miles on the nose 10000ft
Contact
C On the nose range 7
2240
P Got the same
C Check camera on
2241
P Camera on
C If possible take max of pictures
P Very slow moving
C Check alt. of contact
P I still have the contact, 5 miles
C No height
P No height
C 3 o'clock 2 miles
P " " "
C Crossing left to right
P Say again
C Left side high
P Looking out. I see one beacon on the nose
2242
C One civilian traffic west, 10 miles
C Contact 100, SB 100
P Roger SB 100
C Civilian traffic 300, 5 miles
P " " " " "
Steady 120
C Continue 100
P 100
C Even 060 now
060, 5
P Steady 060
C 060, 3. You have contact?
P One contact but speed is changing from 100 to 600
C I have the same contact
P Slightly to right 4 miles
C Affirmative. High moving
P Steady east now
C Roger
P Lost contact
C Both vector 180
2244
P Turning right south
C Contact south higher
P Looking out. Steady south.
C Nine o'clock 3. sorry 3 o'clock
P Steady south no contact
2245
C Disregard snap 360 now
P 360 to the left
Check fuel
C Possible contact 350 range 10
P 350, 10
C 2 contacts due to civilian traffic same position 345, 9
left 330
17 left 330
left 330
2246
C Civilian traffic 340 range 7
P Contact on traffic
C At 5000ft, other contact at 325 range is 7, no height
P Contact on the radar now
C Check camera on
P Camera on loosing contact
C He's now 345 range is 5
P We have the same in B 8, 10000ft. MEEL
C 350, 3
P Radar contact
Contact slightly to the left, 8 miles, lost contact now
2247
C He's at your 360 now
360...
P Request to turn north
C Clear now
P Steady north efflux
C Roger, no contact
P negative
C Reverse south

(The light at Coordinates : 50.32.08, 04.11.08 was easily identified; it was a light on the top of a chimney stack).