Monster Saucer Encounter: Pilot Deer Spangler's Terrifying 1981 UFO Chase Over Frankfurt
In the early months of 1981, a routine cargo flight from New York to Frankfurt turned into a life-altering encounter for 31-year-old Boeing 707 pilot Deer Spangler. What began as an uneventful "redeye special" drastically changed when Frankfurt approach control notified Spangler of an unidentified object following his aircraft. The controllers had a positive radar lock on the mysterious craft, setting in motion a terrifying aerial encounter.
The object, described by Spangler and his crew as a spherical, saucer-shaped craft approximately 300 feet in diameter with a brilliant red-orange glow, seemed to match their every evasive maneuver. Ground observers later described it as a "monster saucer" that glowed like an object burning red-hot upon atmospheric entry. After several tense minutes that felt like hours to the frightened crew, the object didn't fly away—it simply vanished. Though Spangler attempted to file an official report, he faced immediate dismissal from authorities, followed by ridicule from colleagues. The encounter left him suffering from recurring nightmares, headaches, and deep anxiety that continued long after the incident.
Key Takeaways
The unexplained 1981 aerial encounter left pilot Deer Spangler experiencing severe psychological distress despite multiple crew members and ground witnesses confirming the event.
Following the incident, Spangler faced institutional suppression when attempting to report the encounter, alongside workplace ridicule that compounded his trauma.
The psychological aftermath included recurring nightmares and anxiety, a pattern reportedly observed in other pilots who have experienced similar anomalous encounters.
Pilot's Encounter with UFO
In early 1981, a 31-year-old Boeing 707 pilot named Deer Spangler experienced a terrifying aerial encounter that would leave him deeply traumatized. While flying a night cargo route from New York to Frankfurt for German Airlines (Lufthansa's cargo division), Spangler's routine flight took a dramatic turn as he approached his destination.
Frankfurt approach control alerted Spangler that their radar had detected an unknown object following his aircraft. Moments later, the pilot witnessed a brilliant red-orange light resembling an explosion filling the sky behind his aircraft. The entire four-person crew—including co-pilot Hans Muller, flight engineer Peter Lochman, and stewardess Christa Hanish—confirmed seeing a spherical, saucer-shaped craft.
The situation quickly escalated as the object moved dangerously close to their aircraft. "It's trying to ram us!" one crew member exclaimed as the UFO closed in. Ground observers later described witnessing a "monster saucer" approximately 300 feet in diameter with a molten red glow, completely smooth and lacking any visible features such as antennas, windows, or propulsion systems.
What made the encounter particularly unnerving was the craft's ability to match every evasive maneuver Spangler attempted. After several tense minutes that "felt like hours" to the frightened crew, the object didn't fly away—it simply vanished, disappearing instantly from view.
Upon landing safely in Frankfurt, Spangler attempted to file an official report with civil air authorities but was discouraged by his superiors, who suggested he drop the matter. Despite multiple witnesses both in the air and on the ground, plus radar confirmation, Spangler became the subject of ridicule and "man from Mars" jokes at work.
The psychological aftermath proved severe for Spangler. He developed:
Recurring headaches
Tension and self-doubt
Disturbing nightmares
Persistent anxiety
In these nightmares, Spangler would see the UFO "filling the sky" and rushing toward him. Sometimes a hairless, large-headed humanoid figure would appear, causing intense terror. The pilot even began to wonder if the encounter had somehow planted a "post-hypnotic suggestion" in his mind.
Dr. Adrian Selwick, an American psychiatrist in Bonn, agreed to help Spangler process the trauma. Unlike many professionals, Dr. Selwick was open to UFO phenomena and noted he had treated other pilots with similar post-sighting anxiety bordering on paranoia. "This man has been subjected to the most unreasonable harassment and ridicule by friends who should have helped," Dr. Selwick stated.
Spangler's wife Sylvia remained skeptical about the extraterrestrial nature of what her husband had encountered, creating additional tension as he struggled to understand the experience that had so profoundly affected him. At the time the incident was reported in Modern People magazine, Spangler was still suffering from nightmares and emotional distress.
Flight Encounter Information
Journey Details
The incident occurred in early 1981 during a nighttime cargo flight from New York to Frankfurt. Deer Spangler, a 31-year-old Boeing 707 pilot employed by German Airlines (the cargo division of Lufthansa), was approaching his destination when the situation drastically changed. What had been a routine flight suddenly turned into something extraordinary. The event would later be documented in a 1981 issue of Modern People magazine by journalist Y.S. Derfield.
Aerial Phenomenon Characteristics
The object appeared as a brilliant red-orange light resembling an explosion in the sky behind the aircraft. Crew members described seeing a spherical craft with a classic saucer shape, approximately 300 feet in diameter. The object glowed with an intense molten red color, similar to something burning hot upon entering Earth's atmosphere. It had a completely smooth exterior without any visible antennas, portholes, wings, fins, or propulsion outlets. The craft's most unusual characteristic was its disappearance method—it didn't fly away but simply vanished instantaneously.
Flight Crew Responses
The four-person crew, including Captain Spangler, co-pilot Hans Muller, flight engineer Peter Lochman, and stewardess Christa Hanish, reacted with near panic to the phenomenon. As the captain maneuvered desperately to avoid collision, the other crew members were thrown into distress. "It's trying to ram us!" one crew member exclaimed as the object closed in. Christa specifically identified it as a "spaceship." The crew reported the craft mimicked every evasive maneuver attempted by Captain Spangler, creating a terrifying situation where they genuinely feared they wouldn't survive the flight.
Terrestrial Observations
Frankfurt approach control first alerted Spangler to the situation, reporting they had "positive radar lock" on something following his plane. Ground witnesses later interviewed described the craft as a "monster saucer" of enormous size. These observers confirmed seeing the same brilliant red glow mentioned by the crew. The encounter was additionally validated through radar tracking, providing technical confirmation beyond visual observations. Despite multiple credible witnesses both in the air and on the ground, authorities discouraged Spangler from filing an official report, and he faced ridicule rather than support after landing safely in Frankfurt.
Effects Following the UFO Incident
Immediate Aftermath
The encounter left the entire crew shaken as they safely landed in Frankfurt. Captain Spangler, co-pilot Hans Muller, flight engineer Peter Lochman, and stewardess Christa Hanish had all witnessed something that defied conventional explanation. The spherical craft, described by ground observers as a "monster saucer" approximately 300 feet in diameter with a brilliant molten-red glow, had seemingly attempted to ram their Boeing 707 cargo plane. The object had tracked their every evasive maneuver before inexplicably vanishing into thin air. Ground radar had confirmed the presence of this unidentified object, with Frankfurt approach control maintaining a positive radar lock on it throughout the encounter.
Challenges in Documentation
Upon landing, Captain Spangler attempted to file a formal report with civil aviation authorities but faced unexpected resistance. His superiors actively discouraged him from pursuing the matter, suggesting it would be "in his best interest" to drop the issue entirely. This dismissive response deeply frustrated Spangler, who couldn't understand why such a potentially dangerous incident wasn't being properly investigated. Despite multiple witnesses—including his flight crew, ground observers, and radar operators—Spangler became the target of ridicule and harassment, with "man from Mars" jokes undermining his credibility. The apparent systematic trivialization of his experience left him feeling isolated and invalidated.
Psychological Consequences
The incident profoundly affected Spangler's mental health in the months following the encounter. He developed recurring symptoms including:
Severe headaches and tension
Persistent self-doubt
Terrifying nightmares featuring the UFO
Sleep disturbances
Feelings of being "spooked" or haunted
His nightmares frequently featured the UFO "filling the sky" and "rushing down like a falling planet." Sometimes these dreams included a disturbing humanoid figure with a large, hairless head. These experiences were so unsettling that Spangler occasionally wondered if the encounter had somehow implanted a "post-hypnotic suggestion" in his mind.
The psychological impact strained his marriage, as his wife Sylvia remained skeptical about the nature of the object. Dr. Adrian Selwick, an American psychiatrist in Bonn who treated Spangler, noted that similar anxiety patterns had appeared in other pilots following UFO encounters. "This man has been subjected to the most unreasonable harassment and ridicule by friends who should have helped," Dr. Selwick explained. At the time the story became public in 1981, Spangler was still experiencing significant emotional distress, describing the encounter as having "practically wrecked" him.
Psychiatric Assessment
This section examines the mental health impact of the aerial encounter experienced by Captain Deer Spangler, a cargo pilot who reported a UFO incident while approaching Frankfurt in early 1981. The psychological aftermath proved significant, with Spangler developing recurring nightmares, anxiety, and persistent distress following the encounter.
Mental Health Support from Dr. Swick
Dr. Adrien Swick, a 56-year-old American psychiatrist practicing in Bonn, stepped forward to assist Spangler with his psychological trauma. Unlike many medical professionals, Dr. Swick approached Spangler's account with an open mind, having previously worked with other pilots who developed severe anxiety and near-paranoid states following unexplained aerial encounters. He criticized the handling of Spangler's case, noting, "This man has faced unreasonable harassment and ridicule from friends who should have supported him."
Dr. Swick viewed his relationship with Spangler as extending beyond the typical doctor-patient dynamic, considering himself more of a friend during this difficult period. His perspective was particularly valuable as Spangler's superiors and colleagues had dismissed and mocked his experience despite multiple witnesses confirming the sighting.
The Pilot's Psychological Distress
Following the incident, Spangler developed severe psychological symptoms that disrupted his daily life and relationships. His symptoms included:
Persistent nightmares: He regularly woke trembling in the middle of the night
Sleep disturbances: Insomnia and disrupted sleep patterns
Emotional changes: Feelings of resentment toward his peacefully sleeping wife
Physical symptoms: Recurring headaches and tension
Spangler described particularly disturbing dreams where "the UFO seemed to fill the sky above me and come rushing down like a falling planet." These nightmares sometimes featured a terrifying humanoid figure with a large, hairless head. The psychological impact was so severe that Spangler wondered if his mind had been somehow manipulated during the encounter, possibly through some form of "post-hypnotic suggestion."
The emotional toll created tension in his marriage, as his wife Sylvia remained skeptical about the nature of the object. "I can't offer a clue," Spangler admitted regarding what he had seen, while his wife maintained it couldn't have been "an interplanetary spaceship from another world." At the time of the magazine article's publication, Spangler was still experiencing significant psychological distress from the encounter, which he described as having "practically wrecked me."
Public and Familial Reactions
Criticism and Disbelief
After Captain Deer Spangler's 1981 encounter with an unidentified spherical craft while piloting a Boeing 707 cargo flight, he faced substantial pushback from authorities and colleagues. When attempting to file an official report about the incident, civil air authorities immediately dismissed his claims. His superiors suggested he should abandon the matter entirely, despite radar confirmation and multiple witnesses both on the aircraft and on the ground.
The workplace environment became increasingly hostile for Spangler. Colleagues subjected him to "man from Mars" jokes and persistent mockery, possibly encouraged by management to trivialize the serious incident. This professional ridicule added to his growing psychological distress following the frightening aerial encounter.
Many in his social circle refused to accept his account of the event, despite corroboration from his crew members—co-pilot Hans Muller, flight engineer Peter Lochman, and stewardess Christa Hanish—who all confirmed seeing the same unusual craft that had appeared to pursue their aircraft.
Emotional Support Systems
Fortunately, Spangler found some allies during this difficult period. Dr. Adrian Selwick, a 56-year-old American psychiatrist based in Bonn, provided professional support and understanding. Unlike other mental health professionals, Dr. Selwick approached Spangler's experience with an open mind, having previously worked with pilots who developed anxiety after UFO encounters.
Dr. Selwick noted that Spangler had "been subjected to the most unreasonable harassment and ridicule by friends who should have helped." He viewed their relationship as more friendly than strictly clinical, providing a safe space for Spangler to process his trauma.
The pilot's relationship with his wife Sylvia became complicated by their differing perspectives on the incident. While Spangler remained uncertain about the object's nature, Sylvia took a skeptical stance. Their disagreement about the object's origin—whether it could be an "interplanetary spaceship"—created additional tension during Spangler's recovery.
Spangler's psychological symptoms included:
Recurring nightmares featuring the UFO "filling the sky"
Persistent headaches
Increased tension and anxiety
Profound self-doubt
Sleep disturbances
Frightening visions of a humanoid figure with a large, hairless head
At the time the story was published, Spangler continued to struggle with what he described as "spookiness," a "haunted sensation," and ongoing nightmares—psychological effects that significantly impacted his daily life and relationships.
Cultural Impact of UFO Phenomenon
The UFO phenomenon has significantly shaped public perception and personal experiences, particularly among pilots who report close encounters. In early 1981, a notable incident involved Deer Spangler, a Boeing 707 pilot for German Airlines (Lufthansa's cargo affiliate). While approaching Frankfurt on a night flight from New York, Spangler and his crew encountered what they described as a spherical, saucer-shaped object glowing red-orange that appeared to pursue their aircraft deliberately.
This encounter occurred shortly after the release of Steven Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," when UFO concepts were firmly embedded in public consciousness. Witnesses on the ground described the object as a "monster saucer" approximately 300 feet in diameter with no visible features like antennas or windows.
The psychological aftermath of such encounters can be profound. After Spangler's experience, he developed significant psychological distress including:
Recurring nightmares
Persistent headaches
Anxiety and self-doubt
Sleep disturbances
Despite multiple witnesses both in the air and on ground, plus radar confirmation, Spangler faced ridicule and dismissal when attempting to report the incident officially. This institutional response reflects a common pattern in UFO reporting where credible witnesses face professional and social consequences.
The psychological impact of UFO encounters appears consistent across multiple cases. Dr. Adrian Selwick, an American psychiatrist in Bonn who treated Spangler, noted similar patterns of anxiety and paranoia in other pilots following UFO encounters. More recent investigations, such as Ben Hansen's "UFO Witness" program, have documented comparable psychological effects among pilots who report experiencing terrifying dreams days or weeks after their encounters.
This psychological dimension suggests the UFO phenomenon extends beyond mere sightings to affect witnesses in deeply personal ways that current explanatory frameworks struggle to address.
Comparative Analysis with Other Pilot Encounters
When examining pilot encounters with unidentified aerial phenomena, the case of Deer Spangler stands out for its dramatic nature and psychological aftermath. In early 1981, Spangler, a Boeing 707 pilot for German Airlines' cargo division, experienced what he described as a threatening encounter with a spherical craft during a night flight from New York to Frankfurt.
The incident shares striking similarities with other documented pilot encounters. Like many pilots who have reported such phenomena, Spangler's experience featured multiple confirmations—radar tracking from Frankfurt approach control, visual confirmation from his three crew members, and ground observers who later described the object.
The physical description of the craft matches common UFO reports from this era: approximately 300 feet in diameter, smooth without distinguishing features, and glowing a brilliant red-orange color. What distinguishes this case is the apparently aggressive behavior, with the object seemingly pursuing the aircraft through evasive maneuvers before vanishing instantaneously.
The aftermath pattern is particularly noteworthy. Despite multiple witnesses and radar confirmation, Spangler faced institutional resistance when attempting to file an official report. His superiors discouraged documentation and he became the subject of ridicule among colleagues—a response pattern documented in numerous aviation UFO cases.
Most significant is the psychological impact that followed. Spangler reported:
Recurring nightmares
Severe anxiety
Tension and self-doubt
Disturbing dreams featuring a large-headed, hairless humanoid figure
This psychological aftermath parallels observations by UFO researcher Ben Hansen, who documented similar patterns of delayed nightmares among multiple pilots following their encounters. Dr. Adrian Swick, an American psychiatrist who treated Spangler, noted he had seen other pilots develop similar anxieties after seemingly routine UFO sightings.
The timing of this case is contextually important, occurring just a few years after "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" had reintroduced UFO concepts into popular culture. This cultural backdrop influenced both how witnesses interpreted what they saw and how others responded to their reports.
The motivations behind the object's behavior remain unexplained. While some might interpret the movements as threatening or "toying" with the aircraft, the objective reality remains elusive, with only the psychological impact on the witnesses being clearly documented.
Conclusion
UFO encounters can have profound psychological effects on individuals. Deer Spangler, a Boeing 707 pilot for German airlines, experienced significant trauma following his encounter with an unidentified spherical craft near Frankfurt in early 1981. The object, described as a 300-foot glowing red-orange sphere, appeared to pursue his aircraft before mysteriously vanishing.
After landing safely, Spangler faced institutional resistance when attempting to file a report. His superiors discouraged documentation, and he became the target of ridicule despite multiple witnesses confirming the sighting, including his crew and ground observers.
The aftermath proved particularly challenging for Spangler. He developed recurring nightmares, headaches, and persistent anxiety. These dreams often featured the UFO "filling the sky" and sometimes included a disturbing hairless humanoid figure. His relationship with his skeptical wife Sylvia became strained over their differing interpretations of the event.
Dr. Adrian Selwick, an American psychiatrist in Bonn, attempted to help Spangler process his trauma. Interestingly, Spangler's psychological response mirrors patterns observed in other pilots who encountered UFOs. Many experienced similar nightmares and anxiety weeks after their incidents, suggesting a curious connection between these encounters and subsequent psychological distress.
The true nature of the object remains unidentified, and the reason for its apparent pursuit of the aircraft remains equally mysterious. Whether it represented some form of intelligent interaction or another phenomenon entirely, the experience forever changed Spangler's life in profound and disturbing ways.
