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> RECORD OBS-0462 | status: UNPROVEN | filed 2026-07-31
Home > Extraterrestrial > Operação Prato (Operation Saucer) and the Colares UFO flap

Operação Prato (Operation Saucer) and the Colares UFO flap

RecordOBS-0462
CategoryExtraterrestrial/UFOs
StatusUNPROVEN
SummaryIn 1977, residents of Colares, Brazil, reported strange lights in the sky that allegedly attacked people, leaving scars and burns. The Brazilian Air Force launched Operação Prato to investigate, but officially found no unusual phenomena. The case has become a notable UFO incident, with claims of a cover-up and the mysterious death of the operation's leader.
OriginThe sightings began in 1977 on the island of Colares, Pará, Brazil, leading to the Brazilian Air Force investigation from October to December 1977.
Claimed
  • Residents reported lights in the sky that shot beams causing burns and scars, named 'Chupa Chupa'.
  • Over 2,000 people were allegedly attacked by these lights.
  • The Brazilian Air Force's Operação Prato collected photos, films, and testimonies, but the operation was shut down and the findings were dismissed as nothing unusual.
  • Captain Uyrangê Hollanda, who led the operation, later gave an interview to ufologists and died shortly after, leading to conspiracy theories of murder.
  • There are claims of a 22-hour video showing UFOs entering and exiting rivers, which may have been taken by foreign agents (e.g., CIA) or hidden.
  • The official documents are available from the Brazilian National Archives, but some believe evidence was confiscated or destroyed.
Evidence / consensusThe Brazilian Air Force officially concluded there was no unusual phenomenon. Skeptics attribute the sightings to natural phenomena or mass hysteria, and there is no credible evidence of extraterrestrial involvement. The death of Captain Hollanda was ruled a suicide, with no evidence of foul play.
> OBSERVER NOTE:
A classic UFO flap with official investigation and subsequent conspiracy theories. The evidence remains anecdotal and the official conclusion was negative. The mysterious death of the lead investigator adds a layer of intrigue but lacks substantiation.

Sources

  1. Operação Prato - Wikipedia
  2. Has anyone ever heard of the Colares UFO incident in Brazil? It sounds ...
  3. Brazil UFO Expert on 1977 Colares UFO Attacks on Humans - YouTube
  4. UFO sightings in Brazil - Wikipedia

Sources are external and provided for verification. Listing does not imply the Observer endorses their claims.