Texas UFO seen by second officer of major airline

The sighting was in the area of the Texas panhandle so it would be northwest of Dallas. The Boing 737 was flying at about 38,000 ft going to Seattle from Houston to Seattle on 1-20-08 (today). The flight officer is my long time aviation friend with over 10,000 hrs total flight time.

The UFO was "definately not another aircraft" because it was below his jet in the 3:30 position and not moving in relation to his jet. Not converging which is unusual because all aircraft are moving in relation to your plane, ie. all other aircraft are going about 500 mph and they move right along in one direction. The UFO stayed in that 3:30 position for about 6-8 seconds and then departed suddenly under the plane. It was not seen again.

The startled 2nd officer forgot to check his flight radar to see if it detected anything although it only sees things within 2000 ft so it unlikely it would have seen it. He also did not allert the captain because it was "too wierd" and in the airline industry well, that is often the best thing to do.

reply to post by plumranch

The 2nd officer estimated that the object was between 4,000 and 20,000 ft below his jet. It was a clear night and estimating the distance was difficult.
It had 8 white lights generally in an octagonal shape but it was an elongated octagonal shape with the center longer than the front and rear.
He was looking at it from the top so it had 8 white lights plus 2 red lights at about the 10:30 position and the 3:30 position (more toward the center of the craft)

And I need to correct his altitude to 30 to 32,000 ft.

The flight officer said that he has never seen another flying object like this (ie. this is his first UFO) and it did not behave like another conventional aircraft!

Hi Plumranch,

thank you for posting this. I've starred your post and also flagged it as I feel it deserves to be taken note of -- especially considering what else has been going on over Texas recently.

Do you think you could persuade your friend to join ATS (if not already a member) and perhaps post any more details/impressions? It would be most helpful if we could ask any questions that come to mind. I'd be interested in more exact details about where the sighting was and at what time, as this could be useful if other similar reports surface -- even from ground-based observers.

Thanks,

Mike

Can you provide a link to where you got this story from?




[edit on 20-1-2008 by atlscribe]

reply to post by JustMike

I'd be interested in more exact details about where the sighting was and at what time, as this could be useful if other similar reports surfac

Hi Just,
We have the location but we will have to pull up some aviation charts to get it. He was crossing some radial at the time and was on route to Seattle. So stand by for that.

The next poster asked for a link. Well this is the link as the pilot is a good friend and he stopped by my shop for a beer last night after the flight to "debrief" me on this.

And sorry you don't ask a pilot like this to give his name and airlines, that is the rules. He hopes to have about another 10 years working for this airlines and so he will not be talking publicly about strange UFOs.

I just got off the phone with the pilot. The location by reconing was Guthrie, TX or about 85 miles east of Lubbock. The date has changed to 8:15 pm central time on January 17th.

His Boeing 737-800 was flying north at 480 knots at 38,000 ft and he estimated the craft was at 30,000 to 32,000 ft altitude traveling the same speed and the same direction as his jet for 6 to 8 seconds. His jet was canted/cramped west a few degrees to allow for the west wind at his altitude. The craft was elongated and he could see that it was not having to cramp into the wind to maintain its heading. He was looking down at the lights of the craft which were clearly visible. He couldn't see the darkened outline of the craft (just its lights).

I hope that there will be a testimony or statement from this pilot instead of a unrecorded phonecall.

I find these pilot black box audio recordings also very fascinating.
The audio recordings in this documentary are real.
The first one is the most fascinating where the pilot describes a 300/400 feet long cylindrical object next to his plane with strobing lights that move counterclockwise.

nl.youtube.com...
nl.youtube.com...
nl.youtube.com...

Those vids are awesome,needs its own thread if not yet, maybe just a blackbox thread.

reply to post by abovetech


I would agree with abovetech, even if the pilot dosn't want to give a statement . there is a way around that, did the pilot contact the center (ATC)? about this taffic he was seeing. someone could try to get the atc tapes.

[edit on 20-1-2008 by TopzGunz]

reply to post by plumranch


He can (and should) report this anonymously to NARCAP, even if he does report it to the FAA. They're a sober and trustworthy bunch.

Wow, thanks for sharing his story with us, as has been mentioned before I do think this hould be taken note of. Is there any other information he can give ?

reply to post by plumranch


Hi plumranch,

I have to agree with those who say this friend should report this anonymously to NARCAP. I have had the pleasure of dealing with Dr. Richard Haines and can assure you (and your friend) he will never seek to out your friend or in any way disrupt is career.

Dr. Haines was the researcher responsible for the first ever, completely anonymous, scientific Airline Pilot Survey WRT UFOs. He has published the findings and it is utterly anonymous.

This is about getting DATA, the more genuine DATA we can get the more we have to possibly solve this puzzle.

Just a thought.


Springer...

This is about getting DATA, the more genuine DATA we can get the more we have to possibly solve this puzzle.

reply to post by Springer

Hi Springer,
I have forwarded a request to my friend to be forthcoming and provide us with more anonymous information. But we all know how airline pilots can be annoying sometimes. First he says I have to buy beer for a week, then he says he wants something better than what's on sale! But hang in there, I'm working on it!

Hmm, with all the sightings going on over Texas it could lend credibility to the supposed crash that took place in Aurora, Texas back in 1897. I wouldn't be surprised if another attempt is made to exhume the grave of the supposed alien in the coming months.

reply to post by abovetech


WOW great find on youtube I mean if this doesnt convince you of UFOs then I dont know what will. Awsome find and Ill be checking in.

I'm not real up on aircraft operations, but why would a plane as small as a 737 have a Second Officer on board? Captain, First Officer, I'll buy, but Second Officer? A pilot trainee maybe? Please explain.

I'm not real up on aircraft operations, but why would a plane as small as a 737 have a Second Officer on board?

reply to post by TheAvenger

Hi Avenger,

That's because I'm not too up on aircraft operations and designations either. You're right he's a first officer (right seat). Used to be a 2nd officer on the DC6 a few ages ago. Tks!

Hi, thanks for posting this thread it was interesting to read some details.

I understand why your friend can't diverse anything to put himself in the "cooking pot", but wouldn't there be some passangers that would have seen this UfO aswell?.

Im just currious. these UfO sightings in texas are very interesting.
would you be able find out if any one else on the plane seen it?

.................

[edit on 21-1-2008 by omnicron]

Hi All, just had an interesting thought. This recent sighting was in Texas ok, around 8 January, some claimed it was escorted by helicopters and also two military jets were pursuing. (Maybe doing a test flight / run?)

Now there is the other interesting post about the TU aiming in for a close call, in the "southern hemisphere" around the 28/29 January (last time I looked Texas was in the Southern Hemisphere, and home to some pretty important people.

Without suggesting it was not some kind of vehicle from an unknown origin, but perhaps if it was of earthling military type, the thought occurred perhaps that those higher up the Govt pecking order than us mere mortals may know just a little more about the TU trajectory, and are planning for a rapid 'higher' evacuation from the ranch in Texas, rather than taking to the mountains which may not be ideal real estate if we were to take a direct hit?

Agree, its way out there in thinking, but with all the cover-ups in the past few years, nothing, and I repeat nothing, would surprise me anymore...