Object over Lake George, NY observed by commercial aircraft
I am a commercial pilot on a VFR flight. My course line over Lake George, NY, took me from Sandy Bay to Northwest Bay. At my cruising altitude 2500 Ft MSL, I noticed what I first thought to be another aircraft heading towards me at same altitude off my 11:30 - 12 o'clock position. I first estimated its distance to be 5-6 miles away. As I continued I turned on all lights to become more visible.
After about the first minute of observation, the object appeared stationary with a gradual increase in its altitude. Its color and shape changed from looking like a distant white landing light initially, to slightly larger rectangle of reddish/yellow color flickering like a waving flag. The sighting coincided with the time of sunset that day, however I ruled out reflected sunlight due to the many layers of clouds creating relatively flat light.
As I approached the object, I had a growing concern that it may be a balloon of some type possibly on a cable or cable suspended below it. I changed course about 5-10 degrees east to avoid possible hazard.
After about the 6th or 7th minute of observation the object completely vanished! The rest of the flight was uneventful.
I have not witnessed an object like this in over 20 years of commercial flying; truly unidentified!
((NUFORC Note: Witness elects to remain totally anonymous; provides no contact information. PD))
I am a commercial pilot on a VFR flight. My course line over Lake George, NY, took me from Sandy Bay to Northwest Bay. At my cruising altitude 2500 Ft MSL, I noticed what I first thought to be another aircraft heading towards me at same altitude off my 11:30 - 12 o'clock position. I first estimated its distance to be 5-6 miles away. As I continued I turned on all lights to become more visible.
After about the first minute of observation, the object appeared stationary with a gradual increase in its altitude. Its color and shape changed from looking like a distant white landing light initially, to slightly larger rectangle of reddish/yellow color flickering like a waving flag. The sighting coincided with the time of sunset that day, however I ruled out reflected sunlight due to the many layers of clouds creating relatively flat light.
As I approached the object, I had a growing concern that it may be a balloon of some type possibly on a cable or cable suspended below it. I changed course about 5-10 degrees east to avoid possible hazard.
After about the 6th or 7th minute of observation the object completely vanished! The rest of the flight was uneventful.
I have not witnessed an object like this in over 20 years of commercial flying; truly unidentified!
((NUFORC Note: Witness elects to remain totally anonymous; provides no contact information. PD))
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
Off
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Bolton
USA
05-07 minutes
05-07 minutes
changing
NY
Occurred : 1/24/2016 16:49 (Entered as : 01/24/16 16:49) Reported: 2/1/2016 9:08:43 PM 21:08 Posted: 2/4/2016 Location: Bolton, NY Shape: Changing Duration: 05-07 minutes Characteristics: The object changed color
Object over Lake George, NY observed by commercial aircraft