1988: Nullarbor Plains UFO

The experience of a family motoring across the Nullarbor Plains in Australia made the international headlines at the beginning of 1988. Faye Knowles and her three grown-up sons set of from Perth on January 19th to visit relatives 2,000 miles away.

There was very little traffic on the Eyre Highway, just one truck in front and another some miles behind. Soon after 4am, the Knowles became aware of a bright light on the eastern horizon. It jerked from side to side, then headed straight towards them. It resembled an egg in an egg cup; an ovoid atop a swirling column.

It seemed about to hit them, but then moved behind before receding at great speed. When it sud­denly returned, Faye's son (who was driving) pan­icked and swerved, accelerating back up the high­way. 

The UFO was now directly above them, buffeting the car and emitting a high pitched hum. When Faye put her hand out through the window to touch the roof of the car, it felt soft and spongy. Then their vehicle was pulled upwards off the road, and as the spoke their voices seemed distorted as if they were breathing helium. 

The car crashed back down and the phenomenon disappeared. One tire was shredded, and there were four indentations on the car roof. 

One of the truck drivers came forward after the incident and said he had witnessed the phenomenon. Controversy rages over whether it was a UFO, or an electrically charged whirlwind. Analysis of white powder found in the vehicle found traces of chemi­cals used by NASA on the space shuttle.