1980 · North-west of Kuwait City, before the Wafra VOR
Kuwait Airways KU542 and the giant light
US Embassy Kuwait cable 80 KUWAIT 3223 (8 Jul 1980), page 1: Ministry of Interior investigating Capt. H. Shamlan's report of a hemispherical "light phenomenon" about ten miles across, seen from KU542 Cairo-Kuwait on 20 June 1980 before the Wafra VOR. · US Department of State (FOIA release), scan via 248am.com / Flickr
When20 June 1980, about 21:00
WhereNorth-west of Kuwait City, before the Wafra VOR
Backing2 independent
Evidenceofficial records
On 20 June 1980 Kuwait Airways' operations director, flying KU542 in from Cairo, saw with his crew a hemispherical light about ten miles across near Kuwait City, and a second airliner 90 miles out reported the same. Radar showed nothing. The Interior Ministry investigated, and the U.S. embassy cabled Washington.
Evidence, in date order (2)
- Jun 1980Kuwait Ministry of Interiorofficialinvestigated the sighting
- 8 Jul 1980U.S. Embassy Kuwaitofficialcable 80 KUWAIT 3223 (Dickman, 8 Jul 1980) 80 KUWAIT 3223
How plausible · High
Two airline crews, one led by the airline's operations director, an Interior Ministry investigation and a U.S. embassy cable vouching for his competence.
- ●●Access From the cockpit.
- ●●No gain sought Nothing sold.
- ●●Character record Operations director.
- ●●Independent convergence A second crew.
- ●●Checkable details check out Embassy cable.
- ●○Cost of speaking Named.
Plausibility weighs how well an account fits where secrecy hides the documents by design, so missing records never count against it. Strength measures what is documented. Assessed 2026-10-23.
Claims
A hemispherical light about 10 miles across at about 15,000 ft, seen with his crew; KU708 from Khartoum, about 90 miles out, reported the same. No radar return.firsthandOn the recordCapt. H. Shamlan, Kuwait Airways Operations Director, via cable 80 KUWAIT 3223
Shamlan is 'level-headed and competent'.analysisOn the recordU.S. embassy deputy chief of mission
Where
North-west of Kuwait City, before the Wafra VOR
29.1°N 47.8°E