12 Unexplained Events That Were Caught on Live TV

These 12 unexplained moments aired live on television and left viewers, hosts, and investigators without clear explanations.

Sophia Zapanta
May 6, 2025
4 min read

12 Unexplained Events That Were Caught on Live TV — Infrogmation on Wikimedia Commons

Live television doesn’t allow for second takes, which makes the strange moments caught on camera all the more unsettling. From odd interruptions to mysterious behavior, each event listed here left behind more questions than answers. While some were later clarified, others remain unexplained even years later.

1. The Max Headroom Broadcast Hijacking (Chicago, 1987)

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During two live broadcasts, an unknown person hijacked TV signals dressed as the character Max Headroom. No one has ever identified the person responsible or how they accessed the broadcast feed. The footage was bizarre, with distorted audio and strange behavior. The FCC and FBI investigated, but the case is still unsolved.

2. Christine Chubbuck’s Live Broadcast (Florida, 1974)

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News anchor Christine Chubbuck took her own life during a live broadcast on a Sarasota TV station. She gave a scripted report before pulling out a gun and firing. Her reasons were later linked to personal and professional struggles, but the act shocked viewers across the country. The original footage has never been publicly released.

3. Travis Walton’s Abduction Claim (Arizona, 1975 – Interviewed later on live TV)

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Walton disappeared for five days after a logging shift, returning with a story of alien abduction. His coworkers passed polygraph tests, and Walton retold the event in several live TV interviews. The event remains controversial, with no definitive explanation. It remains one of the most well-known UFO-related cases discussed on air.

4. The Disappearance of Brandon Lee on Set (North Carolina, 1993)

Obata family on Wikimedia Commons

While not a live airing, footage of Brandon Lee’s accidental shooting during the filming of The Crow was captured and later discussed in live news segments. A real bullet fragment was left in a prop gun, killing Lee during a scene. Questions about safety protocols followed, but how it happened exactly remains debated. The footage was never broadcast publicly.

5. The Denver Airport Blip (Colorado, 2016)

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During a live weather broadcast, a strange blur or “blip” appeared quickly in the sky behind the reporter. Viewers noticed it moving erratically at high speed. It was not explained by the station, and no weather anomaly was reported. The clip circulated widely online and drew UFO theories.

6. The Collapse of Live Interview Guest (UK, 2021)

Multiguy74 on Wikimedia Commons

A guest on a UK morning show appeared to faint or collapse while being interviewed via video. Hosts quickly cut the feed, and no clear update was ever given on the guest’s condition. Some viewers speculated it was a health emergency. The sudden nature of the event left viewers confused and concerned.

7. Robert Stack’s Final Unsolved Mysteries Segment (USA, early 2000s)

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One of the last segments hosted by Robert Stack featured a man who disappeared shortly after the episode aired. The case became tied to the show itself, as tips poured in, but nothing was confirmed. Some believed the person had staged the disappearance for attention. The segment remains one of the most eerie in the show’s history.

8. The Falling Man (New York, 2001)

BaseOn on Wikimedia Commons

During the live coverage of the 9/11 attacks, footage showed a man falling from the World Trade Center. His identity was never fully confirmed. The image became a symbol of the tragedy but also sparked ethical debates about broadcasting human suffering. To this day, the event is discussed in documentaries and journalism classes.

9. The Live Earthquake on Japanese News (Japan, 2011)

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During a live news segment, anchors reported a tremor just seconds before the full magnitude of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake struck. Cameras showed the panic and confusion in real time. Although the quake was a known natural disaster, the raw live footage of its onset left a lasting impression. Many viewers witnessed the exact moment Japan’s crisis began.

10. The “Time Traveler” at Tyson Fight (USA, 1995)

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During a live boxing match between Mike Tyson and Peter McNeeley, viewers later noticed someone in the crowd holding what looked like a modern smartphone. The match was in 1995, before smartphones existed. The clip went viral years later, with no solid explanation. Most experts believe it was likely an early camcorder, but debate continues.

11. João Goulart’s Heart Attack on Camera (Brazil, 1976)

Senado Federal do Brasil on Wikimedia Commons

The former Brazilian president appeared in a brief televised interview before collapsing from a fatal heart attack off-camera minutes later. Conspiracy theories arose about poisoning, though no clear evidence was found. Live viewers saw the moment he was visibly distressed. His death remains a topic of speculation.

12. The Phoenix Lights (Arizona, 1997 – discussed live)

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After hundreds reported seeing a massive, silent object in the sky, local news stations broadcast live interviews and footage that night. The event became one of the most heavily reported UFO sightings in the U.S. Military explanations didn’t fully satisfy witnesses. To this day, the lights are unexplained by official sources.