SHANNON — How many pilots does it take to confirm a UFO sighting? Possibly two.
A British Airways pilot reported seeing an unidentified flying object over Ireland last Friday, prompting an investigation into a possible UFO by the Irish Aviation Authority.
In a recording with air traffic control in Shannon, Ireland, the pilot can be heard asking controllers if there was any nearby military activity. When the controller responded saying no military exercises were taking place in the area, the pilot described an object that was fast moving.
“It was moving so fast. It [came] up on our left-hand side and then rapidly veered to the north. We saw a bright light and then it just disappeared at a very high speed.”
A second pilot from Virgin Airlines soon cut in shortly after with reports of “two bright lights at 11 o’clock [which] seemed to bank over to the right and then climb away at speed.”
Aviation journalist Gerry Byrne told the Irish Examiner that “in all probability they were meteorites”, adding that it’s not uncommon for them to come in at a low angle and a low trajectory into the earth’s atmosphere.
Whether they were UFOs or meteorites, the Irish Aviation Authority is now investigating. A spokesman said: “Following reports from a small number of aircraft on Friday 9th November of unusual air activity, the IAA has filed a report. This report will be investigated under the normal confidential occurrence investigation process.”
