Close Encounter

Thinking that a fleet of extra terrestrial visitors from the Zeta Reticuli constellation were passing overhead on their way to dominate the earth, shocked residents of the Bavarian town of Plattling fled in panic and inundated the local law enforcement department with frantic calls.

Now, before alerting the military and having a squadron of missile-laden Tornados whipping overhead sending the rest of the state into a scene of chaos reminiscent of War of the Worlds, the local cops went by the book and investigated the sighting themselves first.

Creative twist spreads fear and chaos

Far from stumbling into a mass abduction or alien invasion, the cause for the mass hysteria was an innovative marriage proposal set up by a 29-year old resident.

The young man who had released into the air 50 tiny hot-air balloons made of paper with little candles burning under them, in an attempt to get his girlfriend into the mood to say "yes," was found sitting by the Isar River with his beloved.

After informing the young man of the incident that his romantic gesture had prompted, the police left the lovers in peace, disappointed that they had not had to chase a UFO across the countryside or apprehend visitors from outer space.

Oh, and the guy's girlfriend agreed to become his wife.