A Texas witness at Arlington pulled over for a better look after watching a "very vivid, fast, erratically flying, blue and red illuminated aircraft" about 11:15 p.m. on February 21, 2013, that could not immediately be identified, according to testimony from the Mutual UFO Network ( MUFON ) witness reporting database.
The witness was alone in the car but noticed that at least one other driver nearby seemed to be interested in the object.
"Best approximation is that it was 1,000-2,000 feet off the ground, though could be as much as a mile," the witness stated. "This approximation is based on scrutiny against fixed ground objects as well as my inability to focus on any sharp edges of the object. Size of the object from my perspective, if height estimations are correct, is at least as big as a large commercial airliner."
The witness first saw the object moving from north to south.
"I have never seen an object like this in the sky before, so I had no idea what it was. It was a definite acceleration from left to right. Nothing like I've ever seen an airplane do, and I have been traveling right next to DFW airport for work for many years. It decelerated even more quickly and hovered to my right for many tens of seconds."
The witness got out of the vehicle for a better look.
"Though I was moving about a bit in excitement, I could tell it was spending some time in its position in a stationary hold, and would also 'bob' a bit as well. Then it started moving back toward the north. It didn't follow a perfectly horizontal trajectory. It seemed to bob up and down ever so slightly as it traveled north. It exhibited a few other small momentary stops, starts, and non-linear movements, though I do not remember them precisely."
The witness described the object.
"The object was a very vivid configuration of red and blue lights. It was blue (almost violet) in the middle, with red affects surrounding the blue. It appeared to change angles as I watched it, but it seemed to be a somewhat flat disc configuration with the blue in the middle. The colors did not pulse, nor did they seem to change in wavelength. They were much, much larger than any of the blue and red beacon lights I've ever seen on an airplane. The lights seemed to fill the span of the object with very little space between them. It also did not make any sound that I could hear."
The witness considered that the object might be a drone.
"I do not rule out the possibility of my estimations of its elevations being incorrect and it being a police drone, but it is VERY difficult for me to believe that is the case due to its quite apparent size given my very careful (as well as I could) approximation of its elevation. It would have to be one huge drone that moved very, very quickly. Given the sizes of drones I've seen, it would have to be much, much lower in the sky than this object appeared to be as big as it was from my point of view."
No images or videos were included with the MUFON report, which was filed on February 22, 2013. Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, TX, population 374,000.
Texas is a current UFO ALERT 3 rating, with a high number of UFO sightings nationally. Texas had 40 reports in January 2012 - the 3rd highest reporting state while California had 75 reports - the highest reporting state in the nation.
You can read more details about other recently reported cases at the UFO Examiner home page.
The following is the unedited report filed with MUFON. Please keep in mind that most UFO reports can be explained as something natural or manmade. If Texas MUFON State Director Teresa Turner investigates and reports back on this case, I will release an update. Please report UFO activity to MUFON.com .
February 21, 2013, 11:15 p.m., Arlington, Tarrant County, TX - Very vivid, fast, erratically flying, blue and red illuminated aircraft. Case 45829.
Saw one very bright, very vivid object maneuvering like nothing Ive ever seen before. Best approximation is that it was 1000-2000 feet off the ground, though could be as much as a mile. This approximation is based on scrutiny against fixed ground objects as well as my inability to focus on any sharp edges of the object. Size of the object from my perspective, if height estimations are correct, is at least as big as a large commercial airliner. I was driving alone when I first saw it, but there were other cars on the road. I saw at least one person slow down almost to a stop to look at it, but they did not stop, so I can not speak for them.
As I was traveling east, the object came into view from my left (north) and accelerated to my right (south). It have never seen an object like this in the sky before, so I had no idea what it was. It was a definite acceleration from left to right. Nothing like Ive ever seen an airplane do, and I have been traveling right next to DFW airport for work for many years. It decelerated even more quickly and hovered to my right for many tens of seconds. I parked my car and got out. Though I was moving about a bit in excitement, I could tell it was spending some time in its position in a stationary hold, and would also "bob" a bit as well. Then it started moving back toward the north. It didnt follow a perfectly horizontal trajectory. It seemed to bob up and down ever so slightly as it traveled north. It exhibited a few other small momentary stops, starts, and non-linear movements, though I do not remember them precisely.
When it got back to approximately the same location as where I first saw it (from left to right and back, Id say the span equaled about 90- to 100-degrees in my best estimation, with an elevation of approximately 70- to 80-degrees off the horizon), it again very quickly decelerated and stopped. It hovered there for what seemed to be more tens of seconds, then quickly ascended vertically. It stopped again and then descended vertically below the tree line. I ran back to my car to try to find it again, but could not.
I have video as well. It is not extremely high quality, but I made sure to rest my phone against a light pole to minimize camera shake and did my best to align the focus point with the object. Unfortunately, in my excitement, I did not pay attention to the orientation of my phone, so the original videos are upside-down. I have two clips of the object (about five minutes total).
The object was a very vivid configuration of red and blue lights. It was blue (almost violet) in the middle, with red affects surrounding the blue. It appeared to change angles as I watched it, but it seemed to be a somewhat flat disc configuration with the blue in the middle. The colors did not pulse, nor did they seem to change in wavelength. They were much, much larger than any of the blue and red beacon lights Ive ever seen on an airplane. The lights seemed to fill the span of the object with very little space between them. It also did not make any sound that I could hear.
I do not rule out the possibility of my estimations of its elevations being incorrect and it being a police drone, but it is VERY difficult for me to believe that is the case due to its quite apparent size given my very careful (as well as I could) approximation of its elevation. It would have to be one huge drone that moved very, very quickly. Given the sizes of drones Ive seen, it would have to be much, much lower in the sky than this object appeared to be as big as it was from my point of view.
I was very excited when I saw the object. I hear people talk about "UFOs" a lot and am quite fascinated with the phenomenon myself, but I have never actually seen anything that made me think something extraordinary was happening. I have a very specific list of criteria I require before Ill believe something is truly a "UFO" and not something mundane. This object passed muster by a long shot. Its erratic and extremely unusual flight characteristics were undeniable, as were its supposed speeds and accel/decel capabilities from my perspective. I was very excited during the experience and still am.
I would be happy to share the video files. They are quite large and are upside-down though. I will attempt to compress them and rotate them, but will also happily share the unedited originals if required/helpful.
via Examiner National Edition Gadgets & Tech Channel Articles http://www.examiner.com/article/texas-witness-describes-very-fast-illuminated-craft-over-arlington?cid=roadrunner