Pascagoula Fishermen Claim Alien Abduction

Two men say they were taken aboard a UFO and experimented on in 1973

Mar. 22, 2026 at 2:08pm

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In October 1973, Calvin Parker and Charles Hickson claimed they were fishing on the Pascagoula River in Mississippi when they were abducted by a UFO and its strange, claw-handed creatures. The two men reported the incident to the local sheriff's office, but their story was initially met with skepticism until a secret recording captured their distressed reactions.

Why it matters

The Pascagoula incident is considered one of the most well-documented and credible alien abduction cases in modern history. While there is no physical evidence, the consistent accounts from Parker and Hickson, as well as other witnesses who reported seeing a UFO that night, have made this case a touchstone for ufologists and those who believe in extraterrestrial visitation.

The details

According to Parker and Hickson, they were fishing on the Pascagoula River when a bright light emerged from the sky and a large, football-shaped craft descended. Three strange, humanoid creatures with claw-like hands floated out of the vessel and abducted the two men. Parker and Hickson said they were taken aboard the craft, where they were examined and probed by the creatures before being returned to the riverbank, disoriented and shaken. When they reported the incident to the local sheriff's office, a hidden recording device captured their distressed conversation, lending credibility to their account.

  • On October 11, 1973, Parker and Hickson were fishing on the Pascagoula River in Mississippi.
  • The alleged alien abduction occurred that same evening.

The players

Calvin Parker

One of the two fishermen who claimed to have been abducted by aliens on the Pascagoula River in 1973.

Charles Hickson

The other fisherman who, along with Calvin Parker, claimed to have been abducted by aliens on the Pascagoula River in 1973.

Captain Glenn Ryder

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office captain who initially doubted Parker and Hickson's alien abduction story, but later became convinced of its credibility after hearing a secret recording of the two men's distressed conversation.

Sheriff Fred Diamond

The Jackson County Sheriff who was present when Parker and Hickson reported their alleged alien abduction to the authorities.

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What they’re saying

“When I got in there they had me. There were no seats, no chain, they just moved me around. I couldn't resist them. I just floated, felt no sensation, no pain. They kept me in that position a little while, then they'd raise me back up.”

— Charles Hickson

“Jesus Christ, God have mercy, I thought I'd been through enough of Hell on this earth and now I've got to go through something like this. But they could have, you know, I guess they, well, they could have harmed us, son. They had us. They could have done anything to us.”

— Charles Hickson

“I just want to cry right now. What's so damn bad about it is nobody's going to believe us.”

— Calvin Parker

What’s next

Authorities continue to investigate the Pascagoula incident, seeking any physical evidence or additional witness accounts that could corroborate Parker and Hickson's claims.

The takeaway

The Pascagoula alien abduction case remains one of the most compelling and well-documented encounters of its kind. While skeptics remain, the consistent testimonies of Parker and Hickson, as well as the supporting evidence from the secret recording, have made this incident a landmark in the history of UFO and extraterrestrial research.