Flying disc sighting near San Andres Islands, Caribbean

On February 6, 1949, officers aboard the SS Antigua (United Fruit vessel) sighted three objects in the vicinity of the San Andres Islands at 12°30'N, 81°10'W. The first disc was observed at 1630 at an elevation of 60 degrees, passed directly overhead appearing as a round, silver-colored sphere, then changed color from silver to yellow to red before disappearing in the dusk at 22-degree elevation. At 1700, two more objects were sighted. The 6th Weather Squadron (Caribbean) assessed a weather balloon explanation as improbable given wind analysis, but noted possible free-flight balloon, and that three objects sighted within 30 minutes made balloon explanations difficult. Two Russian 300-ton sloops (Omar and Blesk) were noted to have followed a course from St. Thomas through the area prior to the sightings.

“As it passed directly over the ship, several officers described it as a round, silver-colored sphere... it changed color from silver to yellow to red and went out of sight in the dusk.”

Apparent size of 12-14 inches estimated by ship's sextant; not a reliable angular measurement for this purpose. Color change (silver-yellow-red) may indicate a balloon heated by sunset. Radiosonde and balloon hypotheses both partially ruled out. Russian vessel note is suggestive but not substantiated. Coordinates precisely reported.