Unusual activity at Hanford Nuclear Reservation,WA
On this evening I was working at Hanford Nuclear Reservation as a Security Officer. I was a fence line detail and paused for a few minutes to stretch my legs and was watching the flight corridor to SEATAC. I noticed an airliner coming into view and then noticed a very fast approaching aircraft approaching the corridor from the southeast at about the same altitude. I at first thought it could have been a private jet just coming into the corridor to line up for approach to SEATAC. As this situation progressed I figured the fast approaching aircraft would bleed off speed and fall in line. But as I watched I noticed no active beacon or navs and thought it a little weird that this thing would already have his approach lights on. The craft entered the corridor and at this point continuing his northwest heading at a very high rate of speed and what appeared to be the same altitude and as the situation progressed appeared to be on a collision course with the airli! ner.
As I was watching a pit began to grow in my stomach thinking “oh no this might be a bad deal.” The craft continued its heading and it appeared they were going to make physical contact. The craft narrowly missed the airliner’s tail section (I am estimating because of regulation altitude per FAA standards) was about a 1/8th of a mile. The thought crossed my mind that this may be an intercept mission by the Air Force and was engaging the airliner. The craft then banked hard left, same rate of speed coming along side then accelerated banking hard left again this time at an impossible angle of attack cutting in front of the airliner then moved to left wing of the airliner then came to an absolute dead stop off the left wing of the airliner. I watched in amazement as the airliner continued its flight path all the while keeping my eyes locked on the other craft. Once the airliner was past the other craft dimmed itself to match surrounding stars. I stood for another 20 minut! es transfixed on the craft. I then began to notice other airli! ners div erting in a northwest arc the first aircraft coming on the scene banking hard right as I believe enroute control diverted them because of the situation. As this aircraft diverted I tried to keep an eye on the stationary craft. I waited about 2 minutes then turned to see the location of the airliner which by my estimate was at about the same northwest vector as when the craft approached the first airliner at. I then turned to look and the craft lit back up and accelerated at a blinding speed to intercept the diverted airliner.
It impressed me that this craft had a curiosity factor to it and it seemed that it was almost playful in its demeanor.
On this evening I was working at Hanford Nuclear Reservation as a Security Officer. I was a fence line detail and paused for a few minutes to stretch my legs and was watching the flight corridor to SEATAC. I noticed an airliner coming into view and then noticed a very fast approaching aircraft approaching the corridor from the southeast at about the same altitude. I at first thought it could have been a private jet just coming into the corridor to line up for approach to SEATAC. As this situation progressed I figured the fast approaching aircraft would bleed off speed and fall in line. But as I watched I noticed no active beacon or navs and thought it a little weird that this thing would already have his approach lights on. The craft entered the corridor and at this point continuing his northwest heading at a very high rate of speed and what appeared to be the same altitude and as the situation progressed appeared to be on a collision course with the airli! ner.
As I was watching a pit began to grow in my stomach thinking “oh no this might be a bad deal.” The craft continued its heading and it appeared they were going to make physical contact. The craft narrowly missed the airliner’s tail section (I am estimating because of regulation altitude per FAA standards) was about a 1/8th of a mile. The thought crossed my mind that this may be an intercept mission by the Air Force and was engaging the airliner. The craft then banked hard left, same rate of speed coming along side then accelerated banking hard left again this time at an impossible angle of attack cutting in front of the airliner then moved to left wing of the airliner then came to an absolute dead stop off the left wing of the airliner. I watched in amazement as the airliner continued its flight path all the while keeping my eyes locked on the other craft. Once the airliner was past the other craft dimmed itself to match surrounding stars. I stood for another 20 minut! es transfixed on the craft. I then began to notice other airli! ners div erting in a northwest arc the first aircraft coming on the scene banking hard right as I believe enroute control diverted them because of the situation. As this aircraft diverted I tried to keep an eye on the stationary craft. I waited about 2 minutes then turned to see the location of the airliner which by my estimate was at about the same northwest vector as when the craft approached the first airliner at. I then turned to look and the craft lit back up and accelerated at a blinding speed to intercept the diverted airliner.
It impressed me that this craft had a curiosity factor to it and it seemed that it was almost playful in its demeanor.
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Off
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Hanford Nuclear Reservation
USA
30 minutes
30 minutes
light
WA
Occurred : 4/1/2006 23:00 (Entered as : 04/01/2006 23:00) Reported: 7/30/2010 3:14:38 PM 15:14 Posted: 8/24/2010 Location: Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA Shape: Light Duration: 30 minutes Characteristics: There were lights on the object, There were aircraft in the vicinity or aircraft chasing the object
Unusual activity at Hanford Nuclear Reservation,WA