Bright meteor over Torrejon

Summary

A bright meteor was observed on February 19, 1961 near Torrejon, Spain. Military witnesses reported an object descending rapidly from the east-southeast, at an elevation of about 40-45 degrees, before exploding at around 10-15 degrees above the horizon. The event lasted 2-3 seconds, and the object was described as exceptionally bright and large, initially mistaken for an aircraft. Upon explosion, it brightly lit up the clouds.

The official assessment concluded that the object was a meteor, showing typical characteristics such as a descending trajectory and an explosion. Although no photos were taken, observers noted a clear particle separation at the time of the explosion. This case was classified and later downgraded, but remains an interesting example of how meteors can be mistaken for unidentified objects.