Within Silence
Why Were Belgium's Triangles So Quiet?
The Belgian UFO wave made silent triangular craft famous, but its evidence also shows how hoaxes and misidentifications complicate the story.
On this page
- What witnesses reported during the wave
- The Petit Rechain photograph and later doubts
- Conventional explanations for quiet triangle sightings
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Introduction
The Belgian UFO wave of 1989–1990 became one of the most influential sources of the modern “black triangle” UFO image: a large triangular craft, low in the sky, carrying bright lights and apparently moving with little or no sound. For many witnesses, the silence was as striking as the shape itself. Reports repeatedly described objects that seemed too large and too close to be quiet, yet produced no obvious engine noise. [2irdial.com]irdial.comOn some occassions…Read more…
At the same time, Belgium also became a lesson in how difficult such observations can be to interpret. Thousands of reports created the impression of a coherent phenomenon, but later investigations revealed hoaxes, mistaken identifications and disputed evidence. The most famous image associated with the wave, the Petit-Rechain triangle photograph, was eventually admitted to be a fabrication. [Reuters]reuters.comhit ufo image was polystyrene says forger id USTRE76Q3MIReutersHit UFO image was polystyrene, says forger27 Jul 2011 — A Belgian UFO photograph that became a worldwide hit was faked with a piec… [Phys.org]phys.org2011 07 belgium ufo puzzled nasa polystyreneBelgium UFO that puzzled NASA was polystyrene fake26 Jul 2011 — An unidentified flying object photographed high in the Belgian sky that p…
The result is a case that remains central to discussions of silent UFOs: not because it proved the existence of extraordinary aircraft, but because it showed how powerful and persistent reports of apparently quiet triangular objects can be.
What Witnesses Reported During the Wave
The Belgian wave began in late 1989 and generated thousands of reports over many months. Although descriptions varied, many accounts shared several recurring features:
- A dark triangular or wedge-shaped object. [facebook.com]facebook.comMysterious triangular ufo over BelgiumThe image shows a mysterious triangular-shaped object photographed over the valley of Petit-Rechain…
- Three bright lights positioned near the corners.
- Slow movement or hovering.
- Low apparent altitude.
- Little or no audible engine noise.
- Occasional reports of sudden acceleration. [2irdial.com]irdial.comOn some occassions…Read more…
One reason the case gained attention was that some reports came from police officers and other observers considered reliable by investigators. Accounts from the night of 29 November 1989 became especially famous because multiple witness groups independently described large triangular objects with lights underneath. [Reddit]reddit.comOriginal F-16 radar lock-on footage of a UFO & interviewThe events of November 29 would be documented by no less than thirty different groups of witnesses, and three…Read more…
The silence claim appears repeatedly in both contemporary reports and later summaries. Belgian Air Force material describing witness statements noted reports of large triangular platforms hovering relatively low while producing only a faint humming sound or no significant noise at all. [irdial.com]irdial.comOn some occassions…Read more…
This detail mattered because witnesses often believed the objects were close enough that conventional aircraft should have been loud. A helicopter, military jet or large transport aircraft at the same perceived distance would normally generate obvious sound. The absence of expected noise therefore became part of the mystery rather than a secondary observation.
Why the Silence Stood Out
Many UFO reports describe distant lights where sound expectations are uncertain. Belgian triangle reports were different because witnesses frequently believed they were observing solid structures at relatively low altitude.
Some accounts described objects moving slowly over roads, neighbourhoods or open countryside. Others compared the craft to enormous platforms or flying triangles rather than points of light. If those distance estimates were correct, the lack of engine noise would indeed be unusual. [irdial.com]irdial.comOn some occassions…Read more…
However, the entire mystery depends on the accuracy of those estimates. At night, humans are notoriously poor at judging the distance, size and altitude of lights. A conventional aircraft viewed under unusual conditions can appear dramatically closer than it really is. If an object is much farther away than assumed, weak or absent sound becomes far less surprising.
The Petit-Rechain Photograph and Later Doubts
No image became more closely associated with the Belgian wave than the Petit-Rechain photograph.
Released in 1990, the picture appeared to show a dark triangular craft with bright lights underneath. It circulated internationally and became one of the most recognisable UFO photographs ever published. Analysts examined the image for years, and no definitive proof of fakery emerged during its early circulation. The photograph was reportedly reviewed by organisations and specialists including NASA-linked analysts and researchers in Europe. [Wikipedia]WikipediaBelgian UFO waveFebruary 1, 2026 — Patrick Maréchal hoax photograph… Released at the height of the wave, the photo was widely seen in newspapers and o…
For believers, the image seemed to provide visual support for the many reports of silent triangles crossing Belgian skies.
The problem emerged more than two decades later.
In 2011, the photographer publicly stated that the image had been staged using a small model constructed from painted polystyrene and fitted with lights. Reuters reported the confession, and Belgian media widely covered the revelation. [Reuters]reuters.comhit ufo image was polystyrene says forger id USTRE76Q3MIReutersHit UFO image was polystyrene, says forger27 Jul 2011 — A Belgian UFO photograph that became a worldwide hit was faked with a piec…
According to the admission, the object was not an unknown craft at all but a fabricated model suspended for photographic effect. The confession severely damaged the photograph’s credibility and removed what many people had considered the strongest visual evidence from the entire wave. [badufos.blogspot.com]badufos.blogspot.comClassic" UFO Photo from Belgian Wave - the Hoaxer…26 Jul 2011 — July 27: The head of the Belgian UFO group COBEPS acknowledges that t…
What the Hoax Did — and Did Not — Explain
The Petit-Rechain confession did not automatically explain every Belgian sighting.
Even sceptical commentators generally distinguish between the photograph and the broader wave. The image may have been fabricated, but thousands of reports existed independently of it. Belgian authorities had already received numerous sightings before the photograph became famous. [Wikipedia]WikipediaUFO photographsReleased at the height of the wave, the photo was widely seen in newspapers and other sources, known as the "Petit-Rech…
What the hoax did demonstrate was how a compelling visual can reinforce a narrative. Once the public had a concrete image of a silent black triangle, later reports could be interpreted through that visual template. Researchers studying UFO waves often note that media coverage can influence how witnesses describe ambiguous experiences.
In that sense, the photograph became important not because it proved a silent triangular craft existed, but because it showed how easily a striking image can shape collective expectations.
Conventional Explanations for Quiet Triangle Sightings
The Belgian wave remains controversial partly because no single explanation fits every report. Nevertheless, several conventional mechanisms have been proposed to explain why witnesses perceived large triangular objects as silent.
Misidentified Aircraft and Helicopters
One possibility is that some reports involved ordinary aircraft seen under unusual night-time conditions.
Landing lights, navigation lights and unusual viewing angles can create geometric patterns that appear triangular. A witness who sees three bright lights but cannot clearly see the structure carrying them may mentally connect the points into a single object. [Discovery UK]discoveryuk.comthe belgian ufo wave close encounter or mass hysteriaDiscovery UKThe Belgian UFO Wave: Close Encounter or Mass Hysteria?3 Sept 2024 — For example, the photograph taken by Patrick Maréchal wa…
Distance errors can then affect sound expectations. An aircraft assumed to be a few hundred metres away may actually be several kilometres distant, making engine noise faint or delayed.
Atmospheric and Acoustic Effects
Sound behaves differently from light. Wind direction, temperature layers and atmospheric conditions can carry sound away from observers or reduce its apparent intensity.
This matters because many Belgian sightings occurred at night, when visual references were limited and atmospheric conditions could make aircraft seem quieter than expected. A witness might see bright lights clearly while hearing little from the source. This does not require an aircraft to be genuinely silent; it only requires sound not to reach the observer in the expected way.
Expectation and Perceptual Grouping
Psychologists have long noted that people naturally organise isolated lights into meaningful shapes.
If three bright lights are visible against a dark sky, observers often perceive a triangular structure even when the body of an aircraft is not visible. Once a triangular interpretation forms, additional assumptions about size, altitude and speed may follow.
This does not imply that witnesses were dishonest. Rather, it highlights how night-time perception can create convincing impressions that feel certain to the observer.
Secret Aircraft Hypotheses
Another explanation proposed by some commentators is that at least some reports involved military aircraft or classified aerospace projects.
The timing of the wave overlapped with public awareness of stealth technology. Aircraft such as the F-117 stealth fighter had unusual shapes and generated speculation about secret programmes. Some writers have suggested that experimental aircraft could explain reports of strange triangular silhouettes and unexpectedly quiet flight characteristics. [Michael Shermer]michaelshermer.comMichael ShermerUFOs, UAPs and CRAPs - Michael ShermerThe Belgian wave of sightings mentioned was a classic outbreak of local UFO hysteria…
The difficulty is that no specific aircraft has been conclusively linked to the Belgian sightings, and many reported manoeuvres remain disputed because they rely primarily on witness testimony.
The Radar Question and the Noise Mystery
One reason the Belgian wave survived longer than many UFO flaps was the involvement of the Belgian Air Force.
The most famous episode occurred on the night of 30–31 March 1990, when F-16 fighters were scrambled after reports from observers on the ground. Radar contacts and attempted interceptions became a major part of the case’s reputation. [cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk]cdn.nationalarchives.gov.ukaug 2009 highlights guideHighlights GuideThe files reveal how in March 1990 the Belgian Air. Force scrambled F-16 fighters to intercept UFOs reported by police of… [UFO Transparency]ufotransparency.comUFO Transparency LtCol. Salmon F-16 Radar Trace Report — Night of 30–31 March…Official Belgian Air Force report by Lt. Col. Salmon on F-16 radar contacts…
However, the radar incidents did not directly solve the silence question. Radar can indicate that something was detected, but it cannot determine whether witnesses accurately judged the object’s size, shape or acoustic characteristics. Even if unusual radar returns occurred, they do not automatically confirm the existence of giant silent triangles.
As a result, the noise issue remains largely dependent on eyewitness testimony rather than instrumental measurements.
Why Belgium Still Matters in Discussions of Silent UFOs
The Belgian UFO wave remains one of the most cited examples of apparently silent triangular UFOs because it combined several unusual ingredients: large numbers of witnesses, repeated descriptions of triangular shapes, official attention from the Belgian Air Force and persistent reports of little or no engine noise. [2irdial.com]irdial.comOn some occassions…Read more…
Yet the same case also illustrates the limits of eyewitness evidence. The collapse of the Petit-Rechain photograph as reliable proof, the possibility of misidentifications and the uncertainty surrounding night-time distance estimates all complicate straightforward interpretations. [Reuters]reuters.comhit ufo image was polystyrene says forger id USTRE76Q3MIReutersHit UFO image was polystyrene, says forger27 Jul 2011 — A Belgian UFO photograph that became a worldwide hit was faked with a piec… [Phys.org]phys.org2011 07 belgium ufo puzzled nasa polystyreneBelgium UFO that puzzled NASA was polystyrene fake26 Jul 2011 — An unidentified flying object photographed high in the Belgian sky that p…
For the specific question of UFO noises, Belgium is important because it demonstrates both sides of the debate. Witnesses genuinely and repeatedly reported large triangular objects that seemed remarkably quiet. At the same time, the strongest visual evidence associated with those reports turned out to be a hoax, and conventional explanations remain plausible for at least part of the wave. The Belgian triangles therefore occupy a unique place in UFO history: a famous silence claim that remains influential precisely because it is still argued over rather than decisively resolved.
Endnotes
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Source: Wikipedia
Title: Belgian UFO wave
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_UFO_waveSource snippet
February 1, 2026 — Patrick Maréchal hoax photograph... Released at the height of the wave, the photo was widely seen in newspapers and o...
Published: February 1, 2026
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Source: irdial.com
Link: https://irdial.com/triangle_1.htmSource snippet
On some occassions...Read more...
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Source: reuters.com
Title: hit ufo image was polystyrene says forger id USTRE76Q3MI
Link: https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyle/hit-ufo-image-was-polystyrene-says-forger-idUSTRE76Q3MI/Source snippet
ReutersHit UFO image was polystyrene, says forger27 Jul 2011 — A Belgian UFO photograph that became a worldwide hit was faked with a piec...
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Source: phys.org
Title: 2011 07 belgium ufo puzzled nasa polystyrene
Link: https://phys.org/news/2011-07-belgium-ufo-puzzled-nasa-polystyrene.htmlSource snippet
Belgium UFO that puzzled NASA was polystyrene fake26 Jul 2011 — An unidentified flying object photographed high in the Belgian sky that p...
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Source: reddit.com
Title: Original F-16 radar lock-on footage of a UFO & interview
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/1ddtflz/original_f16_radar_lockon_footage_of_a_ufo/Source snippet
"The events of November 29 would be documented by no less than thirty different groups of witnesses, and three...Read more...
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Source: Wikipedia
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFO_photographsSource snippet
UFO photographsReleased at the height of the wave, the photo was widely seen in newspapers and other sources, known as the "Petit-Rech...
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Source: badufos.blogspot.com
Link: https://badufos.blogspot.com/2011/07/classic-ufo-photo-from-belgian-wave.htmlSource snippet
"Classic" UFO Photo from Belgian Wave - the Hoaxer...26 Jul 2011 — July 27: The head of the Belgian UFO group COBEPS acknowledges that t...
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Source: discoveryuk.com
Title: the belgian ufo wave close encounter or mass hysteria
Link: https://www.discoveryuk.com/mysteries/the-belgian-ufo-wave-close-encounter-or-mass-hysteria/Source snippet
Discovery UKThe Belgian UFO Wave: Close Encounter or Mass Hysteria?3 Sept 2024 — For example, the photograph taken by Patrick Maréchal wa...
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Source: cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Title: aug 2009 highlights guide
Link: https://cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/aug-2009-highlights-guide.pdfSource snippet
Highlights GuideThe files reveal how in March 1990 the Belgian Air. Force scrambled F-16 fighters to intercept UFOs reported by police of...
Published: March 1990
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/aliens/comments/vu2g6a/worlds_most_famous_ufo_photograph_is_not_a_hoax/Source snippet
ht Once More. In 1990, during the Belgian UFO flap...Read more...
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Source: reddit.com
Title: The famous “Belgian UFO” photograph is real!
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/1h4m99q/the_famous_belgian_ufo_photograph_is_real_the/Source snippet
The author...Worlds Most Famous UFO photograph is NOT a Hoax (Belgian Petit-Rechain UFO) in Spotlight Once More. 6. 26. UFO Picture take...
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Source: reddit.com
Title: worlds most famous ufo photograph is not a hoax
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/vu2ews/worlds_most_famous_ufo_photograph_is_not_a_hoax/Source snippet
In 1990, during the Belgian UFO flap, one of the most famous UFO photographs ever taken, occurred over a village called Petit-Rechain.Rea...
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Source: reddit.com
Title: the belgium ufo wave 19891990 13500 witnesses two
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/1s2t5vo/the_belgium_ufo_wave_19891990_13500_witnesses_two/Source snippet
The Belgium UFO Wave (1989–1990)On the night of March 30–31, 1990, the jets got radar lock, and lost it. Whatever they were tracking acce...
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Source: reddit.com
Title: some of the most credible and widespread
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/l62z80/some_of_the_most_credible_and_widespread/Source snippet
of the most credible and widespread sightings of UFO were made in 1989 in Belgium. It was later titled "The Belgian UFO...
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Source: reddit.com
Title: a forger admitted to creating a hoax ufo photo
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/ufo/comments/1g6o0cy/a_forger_admitted_to_creating_a_hoax_ufo_photo/Source snippet
Witness accounts from the Belgian UFO wave. Radar evidence during the Belgian UFO wave. Most...Read more...
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Source: reddit.com
Title: belgian ufo wave 19891990 imagine authenticity
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/10pienf/belgian_ufo_wave_19891990_imagine_authenticity/Source snippet
Belgian UFO Wave 1989-1990 Imagine Authenticity?Some witnesses described a mothership type UFO that looked like “an upside down aircraft...
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Source: reddit.com
Title: ufo wave in belgium 1990 see comments
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/aliens/comments/mz2svw/ufo_wave_in_belgium_1990_see_comments/Source snippet
UFO wave in Belgium 1990? (See comments): r/aliensHe observed three bright lights from his home there that appeared to be changing color...
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Source: sciencetechniz.com
Link: https://www.sciencetechniz.com/2026/01/belgium-declassified-ufo-historical.htmlSource snippet
Belgium Declassified UFO Historical ArchivesOne of the most notable incidents occurred in March 1990, when Belgian Air Force F-16 fighter...
Published: March 1990
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Source: unsolved.com
Title: Mysteries Belgian UFO
Link: https://unsolved.com/gallery/belgian-ufo/Source snippet
Belgian UFO - Unsolved MysteriesMore than 3,000 people report sightings of a UFO over Belgium. Three bright blue points of light forming...
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Source: michaelshermer.com
Link: https://michaelshermer.com/sciam-columns/ufos-uaps-and-craps/Source snippet
Michael ShermerUFOs, UAPs and CRAPs - Michael ShermerThe Belgian wave of sightings mentioned was a classic outbreak of local UFO hysteria...
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Source: ufotransparency.com
Title: UFO Transparency Lt
Link: https://ufotransparency.com/files/intl-be-salmon-radar-report-rapport-lt-col-salmon-f16-radar-1990-03-31Source snippet
Col. Salmon F-16 Radar Trace Report — Night of 30–31 March...Official Belgian Air Force report by Lt. Col. Salmon on F-16 radar contacts...
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Source: cobeps.org
Link: https://www.cobeps.org/pdf/belgian_wave_130310.pdfSource snippet
Belgian Ufo waveOn July 26, 2011, the news that the famous Petit Rechain picture was a fake made the headlines around the Ufo world and e...
Published: July 26, 2011
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Source: unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com
Title: Belgium UFO
Link: https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Belgium_UFOSource snippet
UFO | Unsolved Mysteries Wiki | FandomTwo Belgian Air Force F-16s immediately were sent out to locate the object.... To this day, nobody...
Additional References
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Source: das-ufo-phaenomen.de
Link: https://www.das-ufo-phaenomen.de/app/download/5789262574/Belgian_UFO_Report.pdfSource snippet
Belgian UFO-ReportThe observations, visual and radar, were of such a nature that the take off of two. F-16 of the 1 J Wing has been decid...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1682737155701503/posts/1751881208787097/Source snippet
Mysterious triangular ufo over BelgiumThe image shows a mysterious triangular-shaped object photographed over the valley of Petit-Rechain...
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Source: x.com
Link: https://x.com/rosscoulthart/status/1863796156301803656Source snippet
Diligent Australian @mufon investigator @RogerStankovic...investigator @RogerStankovic has grave Qs for those who use the Petit Rechain...
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Source: enigmalabs.io
Link: https://enigmalabs.io/library/90c6dc7d-71ce-4a21-9c86-c0370a72ccc6Source snippet
Enigma Labs | Report a UFO sightingBelgian UAP WaveSome of the objects were tracked by both airborne and ground radar and even chased by...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/BrusselsTimes/posts/the-belgian-ufo-reporting-centre-has-been-analysing-strange-aerial-phenomena-in-/1349348273899074/Source snippet
The Belgian UFO Reporting Centre has been analysing...It began in November 1989. Residents across Belgium started reporting enormous bla...
Published: November 1989
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Source: theweek.com
Title: 30 years later still dont know what really happened during belgian ufo wave
Link: https://theweek.com/articles/905215/30-years-later-still-dont-know-what-really-happened-during-belgian-ufo-waveSource snippet
The WeekThe Belgian UFO wave, 30 years later30 Mar 2020 — For example, a classic photograph of the triangle-shaped aircraft, known as the...
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Source: youtube.com
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wblYKwcpMbc -
Source: medium.com
Title: tr 3b black triangle ufo reverse engineering or sdi legacy 948e6cb35751
Link: https://medium.com/predict/tr-3b-black-triangle-ufo-reverse-engineering-or-sdi-legacy-948e6cb35751Source snippet
TR-3B Black Triangle UFO: Reverse-Engineering or SDI...The modern Black Triangle narrative ignites in late-1989 Belgium, where police lo...
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Source: medium.com
Link: https://medium.com/%40JS_UFO_ART/the-belgian-ufo-wave-europes-most-credible-alien-mystery-94a4d8d48292Source snippet
March 30, 1990, two Belgian Air Force F-16s were dispatched to intercept unknown objects. Despite radar locks, the crafts demonstrated...
Published: March 30, 1990
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Source: conspirafy.com
Link: https://conspirafy.com/conspiracies/belgian-ufo-wave-1989-1990Source snippet
Belgian UFO wave (29 Nov 1989 - Apr 1990) | ConspirafyMay 12, 2026 — The iconic Petit-Rechain photo was a polystyrene model, admitted hoa...
Published: May 12, 2026
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