A pilot flying near London Gatwick Airport reported a close encounter with a disc-shaped object, described as a 'flying saucer', that came within 100 feet of the aircraft's wing. The incident, which occurred on April 29 at 11:30am, was detailed in a report by the UK Airprox Board published in June.
Incident Details
The pilot, operating an Airbus A319 on a commercial air transport (CAT) flight, was descending and turning left over the Sussex countryside near Hangcross, a village approximately seven miles south of Gatwick. The pilot reported seeing a disc or 'flying saucer' type suspected drone flying in the opposite direction at the same altitude, passing close to the right wing.
According to the UK Airprox Board report, the object was estimated to be about 100 feet from the aircraft while the plane was at 8,500 feet, preparing to land. The pilot described the object as having darker markings on the rim, but was unsure if it was a drone. No evasive action was taken, as the aircraft was already in a turn.
Investigation and Findings
The UK Airprox Board, which investigates incidents where aircraft come into close proximity that could pose a safety risk, examined the sighting. They cross-referenced the report with radar data to determine if it was a known drone, but found no matches. No other pilots in the area reported seeing the object, although air traffic controllers issued a warning.
The board concluded: 'In the Board's opinion the reported altitude and/or description of the object were such that they were unable to determine the nature of the unknown object.' They added that while safety had been reduced, there was no risk of collision.
Context of UFO Sightings
This incident is one of nearly 90 unidentified flying objects (UFOs) spotted this year, according to the UFO Identified database. Other sightings include 'glowing orbs' over Heathrow Airport and 'orbs with halos' behind trees in Peterborough. There is no centralized system in the UK for recording and investigating UFO sightings; the Ministry of Defence (MoD) closed its dedicated UFO desk in 2009 due to budget cuts.
Nick Pope, a former civil servant who investigated UFO reports in the 1990s, told Metro before his death last year that many sightings are misidentifications. 'Almost all of them came from people who were utterly sincere in their belief,' he said. 'People are less likely to hoax the MoD, probably because they were worried about the men in black. In the end, we found about 80% or so of these sightings were misidentifications, 15% had insufficient data and 5% were unknown. That 5% doesn't mean extraterrestrial, but as I always remind people, neither did we rule that out. It means unknown, no more, no less.'
Safety Implications
The UK Airprox Board's report highlights the potential risks posed by unidentified objects near airports. While this incident did not require evasive action, the proximity of the object underscores the importance of reporting and investigating such encounters to ensure aviation safety. The board's findings remain inconclusive regarding the nature of the object, leaving the mystery unsolved.
