Cash-Landrum Incident — Radiation Injuries from UAP (1980)

On December 29, 1980, Betty Cash, Vickie Landrum, and Vickie's 7-year-old grandson Colby encountered a diamond-shaped object emitting intense heat on a rural road near Huffman, Texas. The object was surrounded by 23 military helicopters — primarily CH-47 Chinooks. Betty Cash, who got closest, suffered severe radiation-type injuries: blisters, hair loss, nausea, and was hospitalized for weeks. She developed cancer that she attributed to the exposure and died in 1998 on the anniversary of the encounter. The Landrums also suffered health effects. They sued the US government for $20 million. The government denied involvement, claiming no military helicopters were in the area — despite both women and independent witnesses confirming the helicopter formation. The case was dismissed. This is one of the few UAP cases with documented physical injury, medical records, and a federal lawsuit. The military helicopter escort suggests whatever the object was, the US military knew about it.