Buzz
Vickie Landrum (pictured left) and Betty Cash were severely affected by radiation sickness following their close encounter in December 1980.
Intercontinental U.F.O. Galactic Spacecraft Research and Analytic Network ArchivesMain Insights
- On December 29, 1980, Betty Cash, Vickie Landrum, and Vickie's grandson Colby came across a diamond-shaped UFO that emitted intense heat, causing immediate physical distress in East Texas.
- In the aftermath, all three experienced serious health complications resembling radiation poisoning, with Betty Cash requiring hospitalization.
- Although they pursued legal action and documented the event, official agencies have consistently denied any knowledge of the incident.
A UFO sighting on the evening of December 29, 1980, dramatically altered the lives of three Texans, and not for the better.
While driving through the southernmost part of the East Texas Piney Woods, just north of Houston, Betty Cash, Vickie Landrum, and Vickie's seven-year-old grandson Colby encountered a massive, diamond-shaped object hovering above the trees, about 130 feet away. Cash slammed on the brakes, and both she and the elder Landrum stepped outside. Almost immediately, they felt intense heat, as if their faces were being scorched. When Vickie reentered the car and touched the dashboard to steady herself, she left behind a clear handprint.
Among various symptoms, Vickie Landrum and Betty Cash developed painful body sores that refused to heal. The UFO encounter left a lasting impact on their health.
Intercontinental U.F.O. Galactic Spacecraft Research and Analytic Network ArchivesThe UFO slowly ascended, blasting fire and heat into the surroundings. Suddenly, 23 helicopters appeared from every direction, forming a tight formation around the mysterious craft. At this point, the witnesses had returned to their car and were observing the extraordinary event from the moving vehicle. (Other drivers also saw the object and the helicopters from different, more distant vantage points.) Eventually, the objects disappeared from view. Unfortunately, this was just the beginning of their ordeal.
Back at home, the trio fell ill, with Cash experiencing the worst symptoms. She developed blisters, nausea, headaches, diarrhea, hair loss, and red eyes. On January 3, unable to walk and nearly unconscious, she was admitted to a Houston hospital. Vickie and Colby experienced similar symptoms, though to a lesser extent.
The witnesses continue to suffer from health issues to this day. In September 1991, Cash's personal doctor, Dr. Brian McClelland, told the Houston Post that her condition was a "textbook case" of radiation poisoning, similar to being "three to five miles from the epicenter of Hiroshima." For years, the three individuals have fought for justice in court, seeking answers and compensation, but official agencies deny any knowledge of the incident, despite the fact that the helicopters involved were identified as twin-rotor Boeing CH-47 Chinooks, used by both the Army and the Marines.
Did you know that UFO sightings have resulted in damaged property and even personal harm? Explore these accounts of hazardous UFOs:
- The 1975 North Dakota UFO Sighting
- The 1979 Minnesota UFO Sighting
- The Falcon Lake Incident
- The 1980 Rosedale UFO
- UFO Burns
- The 1965 Valensole UFO Encounter
