Retired Colonel Claims C-17 Flight Logs Prove 1996 Varginha UFO Recovery.

Ujjwal Sukhwani
By Ujjwal SukhwaniPublished Jan 22, 2026 at 06:38 AM UTC, 4 min read

Aviation News Editor & Industry Analyst delivering clear coverage for a worldwide audience.

Retired Colonel Claims C-17 Flight Logs Prove 1996 Varginha UFO Recovery.

Retired USAF Colonel Fred Claussen claims a C-17 cargo flight from Charleston AFB to Brazil in 1996, tracked by Air Mobility Command, proves a non-human entity recovery.

Key Takeaways

  • Retired Colonel Fred Claussen claims a 'paper trail' exists for a secret 1996 US Air Force C-17 cargo flight to Varginha, Brazil.
  • The alleged mission, originating from Air Mobility Command and Charleston AFB, was for the recovery of non-human entities and UFO debris.
  • Claussen asserts that international flight plans and mission orders for the C-17 are documented evidence of the classified operation.
  • The US military has not confirmed any recovery and denies having physical evidence of non-human intelligence.

A decorated retired US Air Force (USAF) fighter pilot has come forward with claims about a secret military aviation mission thirty years ago.

Colonel Fred Claussen, a two-time Distinguished Flying Cross recipient, spoke at a press conference in Washington.

He suggested that an extensive 'paper trail' exists for an alleged 1996 UFO crash recovery in Varginha, Brazil.

Claussen's testimony centers on the logistical requirements for a classified international airlift operation.

Colonel Claussen's Testimony

Colonel Claussen addressed an event at the National Press Club on Tuesday.

He joined other witnesses and researchers to discuss the Varginha incident.

The former pilot believes dozens of Americans would have direct knowledge of the alleged flight.

He stressed that even secret missions must follow strict military protocols.

These protocols create documented evidence of the mission's existence.

Claussen challenged the Air Force personnel involved to become whistleblowers.

'We know this mission happened, and you know it, too. Come forward,' he urged.

Alleged C-17 Mission Logistics

Claussen detailed the specific US Air Force C-17 recovery logistics.

He explained that a recovery mission to Brazil would originate with the Air Mobility Command (AMC).

AMC, headquartered at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, would issue the initial order.

Senior officers there would have known about the Varginha crash.

Crucially, Claussen stated that an international flight plan is mandatory, even for classified missions.

He declared that this necessity creates a definitive "paper trail."

From AMC, a specific Air Mobility Wing at Charleston Air Force Base (AFB) would receive the mission order.

This unit would select a crew and prepare a C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft for launch.

Pilots, loadmasters, schedulers, and commanders at Charleston AFB would have been involved in 1996.

The C-17 is a large military transport aircraft, a centerpiece of the US Air Force airlift force.

Its long range and cargo capacity make it suitable for intercontinental missions like the one alleged.

The alleged C-17 flight reportedly loaded the recovered non-human beings and debris at a Brazilian airport.

It then flew the cargo back to an undisclosed location in America.

The Varginha Incident Background

The 1996 Varginha incident is often called the 'Brazilian Roswell.'

It began on January 13, 1996, with reports of a cigar-shaped UFO crash-landing near the city.

Witnesses later reported seeing strange, two-legged creatures with oily brown skin and large red eyes.

One local, Carlos de Souza, claimed soldiers quickly arrived at the crash site.

He reported finding debris and a strange metal that could reshape itself after being crumpled.

Brazilian police and military reportedly captured at least two of the non-human beings.

One officer, Marco Eli Chereze, allegedly died weeks later from an aggressive infection.

This infection was reportedly contracted from a scratch during the capture.

A forensic pathologist at the press conference claimed a rare, aggressive bacterium was found in the officer's wound.

However, the officer's death was officially attributed to a common Earth bacteria strain.

Aviation and Regulatory Implications

The US military has consistently denied recovering physical evidence of non-human life.

Claussen's testimony highlights the classified international flight protocols.

Any military flight into foreign airspace, classified or not, requires extensive diplomatic and regulatory clearance.

This process involves international air traffic control and flight plan filings.

If the alleged US Air Force C-17 recovery mission occurred, it would have bypassed or circumvented standard Brazilian government clearance.

This raises questions about international aviation sovereignty and military cooperation agreements.

The claims, if substantiated, would represent a major breach of trust between nations.

It also highlights the Air Mobility Command's role in executing highly sensitive, long-range missions.

Claussen remains convinced that the proof of this Varginha UFO incident flight still exists within military records.

He believes the aviation paper trail is the key to full disclosure.

For in-depth airline coverage and commercial aviation news, flying.flights delivers timely industry insights.

Ujjwal Sukhwani

Written by Ujjwal Sukhwani

Aviation News Editor & Industry Analyst delivering clear coverage for a worldwide audience. Covers flight operations, safety regulations, and market trends with expert analysis.

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