Magdaleno Castanon
Major Magdaleno Castanon is a Mexican Air Force pilot who participated in the March 5, 2004 Mexico UFO Incident over the southern state of Campeche. During a routine anti-drug trafficking vigilance mission, Castanon and his crew filmed 11 unidentified flying objects using infrared equipment, an incident that became one of Mexico's most documented military UAP encounters.
| Role | Major, Mexican Air Force |
|---|
The 2004 Campeche Encounter
On March 5, 2004, Castanon's crew was conducting routine anti-drug trafficking surveillance over Campeche when they detected multiple objects using infrared equipment. The lights appeared to fly at altitudes of 3,500 meters and surrounded the military jet during the patrol. The crew filmed the objects for several minutes using the aircraft's infrared systems.
Of the eleven objects detected on infrared, only three appeared on the plane's radar, creating a multi-sensor detection scenario with partial corroboration. Castanon stated that the military jets "chased the lights" during the encounter.
Assessment of Object Behavior
Castanon made a notable observation about the objects' apparent awareness, stating that he believed "they could feel we were pursuing them." This assessment suggested that the objects demonstrated responsive or intelligent behavior, reacting to the presence and movements of the military aircraft in a manner inconsistent with natural atmospheric phenomena or fixed installations.
Skeptical Explanations
Skeptic Michael Shermer, head of Skeptic Magazine, suggested the lights were burnoff flares from an offshore oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico. This prosaic explanation has been considered but not conclusively confirmed. The case remains notable for the multiple infrared detections, partial radar corroboration, and the Mexican Air Force's willingness to publicly release the footage.