1985-01-15 - Atlantic Ocean (Canada/Iceland, midway between) - Light

Flashing lighted object observed by an E-3A AWACS crew over the Mid-Atlantic

Midway between Canada and Iceland at 31000 feet altitude we observed an object that was continually flashing from red to green to white. I would have estimated the initial contact to be about 75 miles off the nose of our aircraft and at approximately the same altitude. We were unable to pick up this object on our inflight radar...which had a range of over 500 miles. The object stayed at off our nose for about 20 minutes before rising to what I would have guessed to be over 70000 feet in altitude. It then came to a position almost directly over our aircraft. It stayed in this position for about ten minutes before it took off in an easterly direction at what I would have estimated to be over 70000 feet in altitude. I was the pilot on that particular flight. At the time, I had over 3000 hours of flight-time, mostly in jet aircraft. There were 17 other people on the aircraft who witnessed the same object. I did not learn of your reporting facility until I started listening to Art Bell. I'm sorry my report could not have been more timely.

NUFORC NOTE : Subsequent email to witness :

Dear >,

Thank you very much for the fascinating report! The olde reports I find to be every bit as interesting as the more recent ones. The reports from professional pilots are particularly interesting, and useful.

Thanks again for sharing the information with our Center! Please pass our contact information along to other pilots, so that they will be able to preserve the information surrounding any sightings they may have had.

NUFORC NOTE : Subsequent reponse from witness

The type of aircraft I was flying was an E-3A AWACS aircraft. This was a military aircraft with airborne radar and surveillance capabilities. It has a crew of 17, all of whom witnessed the same object. We should have been able to pick the object up on our in-flight radar which was fully functional at the time we saw the object. In reference to your second question, we tried to make a report when we landed in Iceland, but noone in our debriefing knew how or whom to report such an incident. I hope this info helps. I find your reports on the Art Bell show very fascinating. I wish I knew about his show 15 years ago. Take care now.