In the world of Argentinian UFO lore, the 1968 “Vidal Incident” in Buenos Aires stands out. The Vidal family seemingly vanished from a highway in Buenos Aires, only to reappear 48 hours later near Mexico City. Initially baffling, this story fueled speculation and captivated the world. However, after the initial flurry of interest, a “veil of silence” descended. The participants became inaccessible, and the story faded into obscurity, until recently. Let’s take a look at this odd event.
The Lawyer, The Fog, and the Vanishing Act
A Night Drive Gone Wrong
Numerous Argentinian newspapers reported on this bizarre event. La Razón asked, “What Happened?”. Other papers like La Nación and El Cronista also covered the story. Dr. Oscar A. Galindez , a noted UFO researcher, investigated the case, and much of the following information comes from his research.
The Incident
In early May of 1968, Dr. Geraldo Vidal, a prominent lawyer, and his wife, Mrs. Ravo de Vidal, left a family gathering in Chascomús, located about 120 kilometers south of Buenos Aires. They were headed to Maipú, about 150 kilometers south, where they had friends and family. Another couple, also heading to Maipú, drove ahead of them. This couple arrived safely, however, the Vidals never made it. After the other couple backtracked to look for them, they returned to Maipú without finding a trace. 
A Bizarre Phone Call
About 48 hours after the Vidals vanished, a phone call came to Maipú from the Argentinian consulate in Mexico City (6400 kilometers away). Dr. Vidal told them they were okay, and gave an expected arrival date at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires. When they arrived, friends and family greeted them. Mrs. Vidal was immediately sent to a clinic for psychiatric care, while Dr. Vidal recounted their incredible story.
Dr. Vidal’s Tale
Dr. Vidal claimed that a “dense fog” appeared on the road outside Chascomús. After that, they had no memory for the next 48 hours. When they regained consciousness, it was daytime. They were still in their car, parked on a strange road. They had no injuries, but had neck pain and felt as though they had been sleeping for a long time. The exterior of their car had burn marks, however the engine was fine.
Lost in Mexico
As they drove, they noticed unfamiliar surroundings. They asked where they were, and were always told they were in Mexico. Their watches were stopped, but from a calendar, they calculated that 48 hours had passed. They reached the Argentinian consulate in Mexico City and explained their situation, and from there, called the Lapalline family in Maipú. The Argentinian Consul, Rafael Lopez Pellegrini, asked them to keep quiet until authorities investigated. The Vidal’s Peugeot 403 car was sent to the US for study, and a new one was given in return.
Other Details
On the night of the Vidal’s disappearance, a man was admitted to a Maipú hospital, claiming he had encountered a strange fog on Route 2. The Vidals’ account also echoed details from the 1961 Betty and Barney Hill case, where the Hill’s had noticed strange circles on their car, and where their watches had stopped.
A Notary’s Denial, A Family’s Exit
The Lapalline Connection
La Razón reported that the Vidals had contacted the Lapalline family in Maipú from Mexico. However, the notary, Martín Lapalline, later denied the call ever took place. He said he and his family knew nothing about the Vidals. This denial became a source of suspicion.
Matiyko’s Testimony
A few weeks later, a man claiming to be a relative, Matiyko, spoke about the incident on the “Mancera Saturday Interview” show. Additionally, most of the Lapalline family suddenly left Maipú. Mrs. Vidal, reportedly traumatized, was hospitalized, and some reports claimed that she developed leukemia as a result and died in 1969.
Skepticism Arises
The Questioning of the Facts
Over the years, this case gained a reputation as a classic UFO case. However, skepticism slowly began to grow. Peter Rogerson, in a 1994 issue of Magonia, revealed that he was told the incident was a fabrication, to cover Mrs. Vidal’s disappearance during a hospital stay.
The Movie Connection
Argentinian journalist and researcher, Alejandro C. Agostinelli, concluded the incident was a hoax, created to promote a sci-fi film. In an article called The Flying Cars Are Coming: Hoaxes, Rumors and Science Fiction, he reported that in 1996, the filmmaker Anibal Uset admitted that he and entertainment journalist Tito Jacobson fabricated the Vidal story to promote the movie Che OVNI, released two months after the events.
“Che OVNI”: A Strange Sci-Fi Film
A Synopsis
Che OVNI, directed by Uset and starring Marcela López Rey, Jorge Sobral, and others, tells the story of a tango singer who is picked up by a woman in a Peugeot 403 (the same make as the Vidals’ car). After a romantic interlude, a UFO stops the car, putting the driver to sleep. The woman is abducted and undressed by the UFO.
A Bizarre Plot
The film then shows the driver waking up next to a different woman, and they are now driving in Spain. Like the Vidal story, a teleportation event occurs. The film includes scenes in London and ends at the Ezeiza International Airport where the main character is drawn into a plane which is presumably a disguised UFO, full of beautiful flight attendants.
The Hoax Exposed
Uset admitted to Agostinelli that he and journalist Tito Jacobson conceived the Vidal incident while traveling between Montevideo and Buenos Aires. Uset believes the story was based on an Argentinian case or a case he encountered during his time in England. The “witness”, Matiyko, was Uset’s assistant and actor in the film. Uset admitted being panicked by the growing media attention and the blurring of the real and invented, which kept him quiet for years.
Supporting Evidence and Inconsistencies
The Movie Poster
The poster for Che OVNI depicts a Peugeot car. It’s likely that Peugeot sponsored the film, given that Peugeots were used by the main characters. It’s also the same make of car in the Vidal’s story.
Lack of Direct Witnesses
While many claimed to be aware of the event, no one actually spoke to the Vidals directly. All of the supposed “witnesses” were repeating hearsay. The notary Lapalline’s denial should have been an opportune moment to expose the hoax. Instead, the media presented Lapalline as “covering” for the Vidals.
A Movie Tie-In
It is now believed that no credible evidence exists to support the claim that the Vidals had a teleportation experience. The elements of Che OVNI, released two months later, strongly mirror the events of the “Vidal incident.” It is now believed that one of the famous 1968 Argentinian UFO events was merely a fabrication for promoting a low budget sci-fi film. It is another example of a hoax, that became a kind of urban legend. The story took on a life of its own, due to the cultural climate that was receptive to such an event. The Vidal case highlights the importance of revisiting even the most “classic” of UFO cases.
