Incident #253 — Unidentified Aerial Objects Vicinity of San Andres Islands, Caribbean Sea

This report, dated 9 February 1949, details a sighting of three unidentified aerial objects by the crew of the S.S. Antigua, a United Fruit vessel, on 6 February 1949. The incident occurred in the Caribbean Sea, specifically in the vicinity of the San Andres Islands at 12° 30' N, 81° 10' W. The captain of the vessel reported that the first object appeared as a silver-colored sphere, approximately 12 to 14 inches in diameter. As it passed overhead, the object changed color from silver to yellow to red, eventually disappearing in the dusk at an altitude of 22 degrees. Two additional objects were sighted at 1700 hours on the same date, one off the port bow and one off the starboard bow, both disappearing in the dusk. The report notes that the objects showed no luminosity or motivating power. While the initial assessment suggested they might be weather balloons, the report highlights that balloons released from the Canal Zone would not have reached that position due to prevailing winds. A subsequent investigation into the movement of two Russian 300-ton sloops, the Omar and the Blesk, which were traveling from St. Thomas to Colon, suggested a possibility that the objects were in free flight after being released from these vessels. The report concludes that the changing colors of the objects were likely due to the reflection of the setting sun.