Argentina: Another Fireball Over Patagonia

Source: INFOBAE de Buenos Aires
Date: 02.20.09

Argentina: Another Argentinean Fireball in Patagonia

Witnesses to the phenomenon in Esquel and El Bolsón (Chubut Province) claim that the “night was completely lit” – it occurred last Saturday and research is ongoing to determine if it was a meteorite that entered the atmosphere and disintegrated, or if it was a UFO.

The strange “fireball” that crossed the skies over the Cordillera in Chubut between the towns of Esquel and El Bolsón is being investigated to see if it was an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) or a meteorite that entered the atmosphere and burned up before striking the ground.

The episode took place at midnight last Saturday – although it only became known today – and was seen by at least a dozen people driving along the road that links El Bolsón with Esquel.

Those who witnessed the phenomenon claimed that the dark night was almost entirely illuminated for a few seconds, leaving eyewitnesses “flabbergasted”

“On Saturday, between 23:00 and midnight, personnel on duty saw a fireball-type light,” said Ramon Lotero, second commander of the 36ths Squadron of the National Gendarmes.

“The duty officer went out to survey the vicinity, because we first thought it was a private plane, but nothing could be seen,” Lotero said in a statement reproduced by www.paginasdelsur.com.ar website. While there wasn’t much certainty about what occurred, the Air Force wasn’t able to explain it either. Lotero leaned toward the meteorite theory.

“In theory, it was a fireball. We speculated that it was a meteorite. We cannot say this but in theory we believe it was a meteorite. Had it been a small plane, it would have left some traces, and we looked for the spot where it could’ve fallen, but there was nothing there,” he added.

Drivers transiting at that time at the entrance to Esquel “also saw the same”.

The second commander estimated – based on the observations – that “the fireball” fell between El Bolsón and San Carlos de Bariloche, although he could not be more specific. “When the object was seen, Air Force personnel working at the local airport was contacted, but no further information was obtained,” Loreto pointed out.

(Translation (c) 2009. S. Corrales, IHU. Special thanks to INFOBAE and Guillermo Gimenez, Planeta UFO)