Project 10073 Record Card and Air Intelligence Information Report: PAA Flight 257 Incident, 9 March 1957

This document compiles reports and investigations regarding an unidentified flying object (UFO) sighting on 9 March 1957, involving Pan American World Airways Flight 257. While cruising at 19,000 feet, the flight crew observed a brilliant, greenish-white object that appeared to be on a collision course. The pilot executed a sharp, evasive climb, which resulted in injuries to several passengers. The incident was widely reported in the press, leading to significant interest from military and civil agencies, including the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) and the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC). Multiple military and civilian observers in the vicinity of South Carolina and Georgia reported similar sightings during the same timeframe. The object was described as a fiery ball with a long, brilliant tail, appearing solid rather than gaseous. Military personnel, including pilots of a C-47 aircraft, also observed the phenomenon. Despite the initial alarm and the subsequent investigation, the consensus among official agencies, including the Air Force and consultant Dr. J. Allen Hynek, was that the object was a natural phenomenon—specifically a bolide or 'fireball.' The document includes correspondence between the University of Pennsylvania and the Air Force, as well as internal military teletype messages coordinating the investigation. The reports emphasize that no military aircraft or missiles were involved in the incident, and the CAB investigation concluded that the evasive action was a reaction to this natural event. The file also contains passenger statements, many of whom were asleep or unaware of the object, further supporting the conclusion that the event was a brief, natural occurrence.