NUFORC Sighting 47325

Occurred: 2005-10-29 18:51 Local
Reported: 2005-10-31 11:22 Pacific
Duration: 5 sec.
No of observers: 1

Location: Seattle (Boeing Field), WA, USA

Shape: Other
Characteristics: Lights on object

Twin-engine jet fighter seen to STREAK west to east over Boeing Field in IFR conditions.

This incident probably has nothing to do with a UFO sighting or event, but I include it here because of its utterly unusual nature.

On Friday night, October 29, 2005, at approximately 18:51 hrs. (local/Pacific), I was driving south on Interstate 5, and was just north of Boeing Field, near the Albro/Swift Exit. I was driving in the right hand lane, which affords the best view of Boeing Field of any of the lanes, given that it allows a person to look down on the airport, located on the west side of the highway.

Despite the fact that my car radio was on (tuned to KING FM 98.1), and despite the fact that my windshield wipers were operating at a "continuous" setting, I became aware of the roar of jet engines, set at a high power setting. Assuming that the aural report was from a jet aircraft taking off from the long runway (34 right), I glanced down at the airport to my right, expecting to see a jet beginning its take-off role.

However, my attention was drawn to a jet aircraft that was streaking across Boeing Field at very high speed, and very low altitude, transverse to prevailing air traffic, i.e. it was streaking across the runway, flying from west to east! Although I could not see the fuselage of the aircraft, I could see the cones of white hot exhaust, together with the shock cones clearly visible, streaming out the exhaust nozzles of the aircraft, permitting positive identification of the aircraft as a military, twin-engine jet fighter, therefore probably an F-18, an F-15, or an F-14. As the aircraft passed over Interstate 5, having passed over Boeing field at approximately mid-field, it executed a slight, e.g. 5-10 degree, roll to its right, and it disappeared from my vision, passing over the slight hill to the east of the highway.

I estimate that the aircraft was below 1,000 feet altitude, and perhaps below 500 feet, and it was traveling at between 200 and 400 knots. The weather was poor, and the (lateral) visibility was not more than one mile, I estimate. The ceiling, I suspect, was at approximately 1,000 feet, or less, and I was driving in light, though continuous, rain.

In my thirty one years in Seattle, and during the 28 years that I have held a commercial pilot's license, I have never witnessed such a dramatic event in the vicinity of Boeing Field. Given that the weather was so poor, I presume that conditions were conducive to IFR (instrument flight reference) only.

The incident is being investigated by personnel who work in air traffic control. They report that at least one other witness reported the peculiar incident.

I have no reason to believe that the incident was, in any way, related to a UFO sighting or incident. I report it here, only because of its seemingly truly bizarre nature.

Posted 2005-11-03