"He reported that he had observed an object zooming past his plane at considerable speed." By T.K. Randall via unexplained-mysteries Headline Image: ABCnews Australia Back in 1978, Frederick Valentich disappeared without a trace after encountering a UFO on a flight to King Island, Tasmania. Some mysteries - even relatively modern ones - can be said to have stood the test of time and the disappearance of a young pilot following a UFO sighting in Australia 44 years ago remains one of the most intriguing (and tragic) aviation mysteries of the modern age. The 20-year-old Australian, who had rented a single engine plane from Victoria's Moorabbin Airport on October 21st, 1978, had intended to fly to King Island which was situated around 125 miles away. Everything had been going fine until, at 7pm, he initiated communications with Melbourne Airflight Service Controller Steve Robey to ask if there were any other aircraft in the area. He reported that he had observed an object zooming past