Hoax
The Maury Island Incident
Harbor patrolman Harold Dahl claimed six donut-shaped craft dropped hot slag on his boat, killing his dog. His associate Fred Crisman passed the story along, and Kenneth Arnold was asked to look into it. Two Army intelligence officers who interviewed the men flew home with a box of 'slag'; their B-25 crashed and both were killed. The story also introduced the first 'man in black' visitor.
Weigh the evidence
The ledger
What the record shows, what people say, and the best explanation available so far.
What's documented
- The B-25 crash and the deaths of the two officers are real.
- FBI files record that Dahl and Crisman admitted the story was made up.
What's claimed
- A genuine UFO encounter followed by a cover-up.
Best explanation so far
A hoax. The slag was ordinary industrial waste. The plane crash was a tragic accident caused by an engine fire.
Where to look
Check the sources
Go to the originals. Every link opens the archive or record in a new tab.