A retired US Air Force officer has come forward with startling claims regarding a purported recovery operation involving extraterrestrial entities in Brazil. During a press conference held at the National Press Club in Washington on January 21, 2026, Colonel Fred Claussen, a decorated veteran with two Distinguished Flying Cross awards, asserted that extensive documentation exists to support the reality of a significant UFO incident that occurred almost three decades ago.
The event in question took place on January 13, 1996, when residents of Varginha, Brazil, reported a UFO crash-landing in a nearby field. Witnesses described seeing unusual creatures, characterized by their large red eyes and oily brown skin, reportedly walking on two legs. Three local women claimed to have encountered one of these beings hiding behind a wall close to the crash site. Despite claims that Brazilian authorities captured at least two of the beings, Colonel Claussen alleges that the US Air Force subsequently confiscated all evidence, including wreckage and bodies, initiating a long-standing cover-up.
While the US military has consistently denied the existence of any physical evidence supporting claims of UFOs or alien life, Claussen’s testimony suggests otherwise. He indicated that an operation of this magnitude would involve numerous military personnel, creating a traceable paper trail. “If true, I am certain that 30 to 40 Americans had direct knowledge of this flight and its purpose,” Claussen stated.
Claims of an Unfolding Cover-Up
Claussen emphasized that even classified missions require extensive documentation. He explained that the operation to retrieve evidence from the Varginha incident would have begun within the Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. According to him, senior officers would have been aware of the mission, as an international flight plan to Brazil is mandatory for classified operations.
The process would have involved a specific Air Mobility Wing at Charleston Air Force Base in South Carolina, which would have received detailed orders for a cargo plane. Claussen believes that many personnel, including pilots and logistical staff, would have been informed about the mission.
At the press conference, Claussen, along with other witnesses and researchers, urged former Air Force members who may have participated in the operation to come forward. “We know this mission happened, and you know it, too. Come forward. The time is now,” he implored.
Details of the Incident
The Varginha incident, often referred to as the “Brazilian Roswell,” unfolded over several days. Witness accounts describe a cigar-shaped UFO crashing on a local farm, emitting white smoke. One witness, Carlos de Souza, reported finding debris and a peculiar lightweight metal that reshaped itself after being crumpled. Shortly after, military personnel arrived, and de Souza claims he was forced to leave the area under threat.
Further complicating the narrative, on January 20, three young women encountered a frightened being in a vacant lot. Brazilian military and police captured at least two extraterrestrial entities that day, including one apprehended by officer Marco Eli Chereze. Chereze suffered a scratch during the encounter, leading to a deadly infection, which a forensic pathologist later suggested might have originated from an alien bacterium.
As the story unfolded, the beings and debris were reportedly transported to a Brazilian airport, where a secret C-17 cargo plane allegedly took them to the United States. Despite numerous eyewitness accounts, no physical evidence from the crash has surfaced since then. Chereze’s death was officially attributed to an infection caused by the common bacterium Staphylococcus schleiferi, raising further questions about the veracity of the claims surrounding the incident.
Colonel Claussen’s revelations have reignited interest in the Varginha incident, prompting calls for transparency regarding decades-old military operations. As witnesses continue to share their experiences, the debate surrounding the existence of extraterrestrial life and government cover-ups persists, leaving many eager for answers.
