Post by Joanna on Jan 6, 2014 22:16:04 GMT -5
Jet in 'Near Miss' with UFO
It was certainly a close encounter, but with precisely what remains a mystery. An airline pilot has reported a near miss in which a “rugby ball”-shaped UFO passed within a few feet of his passenger jet while flying near Heathrow Airport. The captain told the aviation authorities who have investigated the incident that he was certain the object was going to crash into his aircraft and ducked as it headed towards him.
The investigation has been unable to establish any earthly identity for the mysterious craft, which left the aircrew with no time to take evasive action. The incident occurred while the A320 Airbus was cruising at 34,000ft, around 20 miles west of the airport, over the Berkshire countryside. The captain spotted the object traveling towards the jet out of a left hand side, cockpit window, apparently heading directly for it.
A report into the incident states: “He was under the apprehension that they were on collision course with no time to react. His immediate reaction was to duck to the right and reach over to alert the FO (First Officer); there was no time to talk to alert him.”
It adds: “The Captain was fully expecting to experience some kind of impact with a conflicting aircraft.”
He told investigators he believes the object passes “within a few feet” above the jet. He described it as being “cigar/rugby ball like” in shape, bright silver and apparently “metallic” in construction. Once he had composed himself, he checked the aircraft’s instruments and contacted air traffic controllers to report the incident. However, there was no sign of the mystery craft.
The incident was investigated by the UK Airprox Board, which studies “near misses” involving aircraft in British airspace. It checked data recordings to establish what other aircraft were in the area at the time, but eliminated them all from its quest to find out what had been responsible. It also ruled out meteorological balloons, after checking none were released in the vicinity. Toy balloons were also discounted, as they are not large enough to reach such heights. Military radar operators were also contacted but were unable to trace the reported object. The sighting occurred in daylight, at around. 6.35pm on July 13, 2013. It has only emerged now, following publication of the report, which concluded it was “not possible to trace the object or determine the likely cause of the sighting”.
The report does not name the airline or flight involved. Even though it describes the aircraft as being “just to the west of Heathrow,” aviation experts believe that at such an altitude it would be unlikely to have taken off from, or be preparing to land at, the west London airport. Instead, the A320, which is popular with many carriers, among them British Airways and Virgin, is likely to have been traveling between a regional airport elsewhere in the UK, and another on the Continent. The aircraft typically carry about 150 passengers.
In 2012, the head of the National Air Traffic Control Services admitted staff detected around one unexplained flying object every month. Dr. David Clarke, a Sheffield Hallam academic and the UFO consultant for the National Archives, said: “The aviation authorities obviously think this is something they should continue to look into and if you are a regular air traveler, you are likely to agree.” Dr Clarke, a skeptic on UFO issues, said: “This latest sighting is interesting, because it is detailed and clear. These pilots don’t file these reports for something and nothing. There was obviously something there.”
Chris Yates, an aviation consultant, said: “Although we assume when these things happen, a UFO is responsible, there is usually an explanation that materializes at some point.”
Source: Jasper Copping, The Daily Mail, January 6, 2014.