Was it a UFO? A meteor? A Russian satellite? The Carbondale UFO incident of November 9, 1974, remains one of Pennsylvania’s most debated mysteries. Witnesses recall a glowing object streaking across the sky before plunging into a pond near Russell Park. Police dismissed it as a prank involving a lantern, but thousands of spectators, federal agents, and even a scuba diver were involved in the investigation.

Eyewitness Testimonies: 🔹 Locals describe seeing a bright, tube-like craft with flashing green and red lights. 🔹 A flatbed truck was reportedly seen transporting a mysterious, tarp-covered object. 🔹 Photographs from that night may reveal classified details after 50 years of secrecy.

Was this an elaborate hoax or a government cover-up? From conspiracy theories to hidden evidence, this episode of VIA Short Takes revisits the night Carbondale stood still.

0:00 - The Carbondale UFO Incident 1:15 - Witnesses Describe the Object 2:00 - The UFO Splashes into Russell Park Pond 2:45 - Police and Public Reaction 3:30 - Authorities Arrive & Investigation Begins 4:10 - The Official "Lantern Hoax" Story 5:00 - Claims of a Government Cover-Up 6:15 - The Mystery of the Flatbed Truck 7:30 - Eyewitnesses Recall Key Details 8:10 - Photographer's Hidden Evidence 9:05 - Speculations: UFO, Satellite, or Hoax? 10:00 - The Lasting Mystery of Carbondale