Remembering that time a jet disappeared chasing a UFO over Lake Superior A look back at the 1953 Kinross Incident Dane Kelly , Senior Digital Producer Published: Related: ‘I’ll believe this to the day I die’: The Michigan UFO craze of 1966 An Unidentified Flying Object is defined as any aerial object or optical phenomenon not readily identifiable to the observer. Feds now refer to them as Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena or UAPs. On Nov. 23, 1953, radar operators stationed at Sault Ste. Marie were reportedly alerted to an unknown object flying in restricted airspace over Lake Superior, near the Soo Locks. An interceptor aircraft took off from the nearby Kincheloe Air Force Base to investigate. It was piloted by Felix Moncla and had Robert L. Wilson as a radar operator. For whatever reason, the radar on the F-89C was having problems tracking the object, which allegedly kept changing course , so Ground Control gave Moncla directions. Moncla pursued the object for a half hour at speeds of up to 500 miles per hour. Ground Control watched the two blips on the radar screen — representing the F89-C jet and the unknown object — get closer until they became one blip, roughly 70 miles off the Keweenaw Peninsula. The single blip continued on the course it was flying before vanishing from the radar screen. Attempts made to contact the jet were unsuccessful. A search and rescue operation by the United States and Canadian Air Forces failed to find any trace of the aircraft or its occupants. The disappearance is known as the Kinross Incident . The U.S. Air Force reported that the jet crashed while pursuing a Canadian aircraft that was off course as it was flying to Sudbury, Ontario. The Royal Canadian Air Force has denied this. Subury’s airport was under construction at the time and didn’t open until the next year. That being said, Moncla’s gravestone states he disappeared “intercepting a UFO over Canadian Border.” I want that on my gravestone regardless of how I go. Copyright 2025 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit — All rights reserved. About the Author Police seek suspect in Partridge Creek shooting ▶ 0:32 Police seek suspect in Partridge Creek shooting Red-Tailed Hawk released Sterling Heights officer saves infant from choking ▶ 1:41 Sterling Heights officer saves infant from choking Amazon launches drone delivery in Metro Detroit ▶ 1:29 Amazon launches drone delivery in Metro Detroit Trump signs Epstein transparency act ▶ 0:33 Trump signs Epstein transparency act Detroit woman finds gator in son's room ▶ 0:28 Detroit woman finds gator in son's room Old Belle Isle Zoo demolition underway ▶ 1:33 Old Belle Isle Zoo demolition underway Wayne County man stops at casino after police chase ▶ 1:49 Wayne County man stops at casino after police chase House votes to release Epstein files ▶ 1:09 House votes to release Epstein files FBI links Dearborn raid to 2021 Westland shooting ▶ 0:35 FBI links Dearborn raid to 2021 Westland shooting Deputy fires weapon in traffic stop; suspect held ▶ 0:33 Deputy fires weapon in traffic stop; suspect held Suspected gunman shot after carjacking, chase, crash ▶ 0:49 Suspected gunman shot after carjacking, chase, crash Skelton brothers' father charged with murder ▶ 1:16 Skelton brothers' father charged with murder Epstein emails discuss Trump and victim, say Dems ▶ 0:39 Epstein emails discuss Trump and victim, say Dems 'Gross, inhumane': Fiancé of Allen Park worker slams USPS statement ▶ 0:14 'Gross, inhumane': Fiancé of Allen Park worker slams USPS statement 'This was no hit': Dispute over sale sparks murder ▶ 1:25 'This was no hit': Dispute over sale sparks murder Driver crashes repeatedly into Royal Oak beauty store ▶ 1:38 Driver crashes repeatedly into Royal Oak beauty store FAA cuts flights: DTW among 40 impacted airports ▶ 1:32 FAA cuts flights: DTW among 40 impacted airports Monitoring flight cancellations at DTW ▶ 0:28 Monitoring flight cancellations at DTW Detroit Metro Airport hit by FAA flight cuts amid shutdown ▶ 0:55 Detroit Metro Airport hit by FAA flight cuts amid shutdown Ann Arbor parents push for school cell phone ban ▶ 0:38 Ann Arbor parents push for school cell phone ban WMU alum, Dallas Cowboy player Marshawn Kneeland dies ▶ 0:40 WMU alum, Dallas Cowboy player Marshawn Kneeland dies Reckless driving worries Birmingham families ▶ 0:32 Reckless driving worries Birmingham families Detroit Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield delivers acceptance speech ▶ 2:54 Detroit Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield delivers acceptance speech Solomon Kinloch concedes in Detroit mayoral race ▶ 2:40 Solomon Kinloch concedes in Detroit mayoral race Previous photo Source: https://www.clickondetroit.com/features/2025/11/24/remembering-that-time-a-jet-disappeared-chasing-a-ufo-over-lake-superior/