Pilot avoids collision with UFO in Texas

Summary

In 1957, an airline pilot narrowly avoided a collision with an unidentified flying object (UFO) while flying between Amarillo and El Paso, Texas. The incident occurred when the pilot suddenly spotted lights in his path and executed an abrupt maneuver to avoid a crash. Two women were slightly injured, and the plane landed in Amarillo for inspection. Although initially speculated as a UFO, the investigation concluded it was another aircraft, likely a U.S. Air Force KC-97 operating in the area. The incident made headlines and was investigated by the Civil Aeronautics Administration.

This case was part of a series of similar incidents in the region, where pilots had to take evasive action against unidentified aerial objects. The Air Force requested official reports from the Civil Aeronautics Administration to include in their files on unidentified aerial phenomena. Although the UFO hypothesis was dismissed, the case reflects the era's concern about unconventional aerial objects and the need to coordinate investigations among different agencies.