NUFORC Sighting 106338

Occurred: 2014-01-14 19:35 Local
Reported: 2014-01-15 16:16 Pacific
Duration: ~2 minutes
No of observers: 2

Location: Roanoke, VA, USA

Shape: Light
Characteristics: Lights on object, Aura or haze around object

Bright, reddish-orange light moving in the night sky above Roanoke, Va.

At the time and date stated above, the sky was clear, stars were plentiful.

My girlfriend and I were leaving our parked car in front of our house when we noticed a bright reddish light in the northeastern quadrant of the night sky. My girlfriend is training to become a pilot and remarked that having only the single colored light made it appear to not be a fixed wing aircraft of any sort since it did not have the white strobe light and constant green light that most aircraft possess.

The object appeared to be moving slowly in a north-south direction, though at times it appeared to slow to a stop and even slightly adjust course before moving forward once again.

At the same time this was happening, an emergency helicopter passed overhead (in the opposite direction the UFO was moving) traveling at its normal operating altitude. This gave us some perspective as to the relative distance the unknown object was both above us and in a distance. We would estimate the object was in the range of 10,000 to 12,000 feet in altitude, and perhaps some three to six miles away.

We continued watching the object as it continued its’ north-south vector for some minute and a half. Then the object stopped moving forward and hesitated briefly. I watched as the light appeared to slowly turn on its’ axis so as the bright light was no longer shining in our direction, but now facing due east. I could still see the light enough to tell that it was now moving forward in an easterly direction.

Once it began traveling in that direction it disappeared within two to three seconds, fading from sight very quickly.

Today I contacted the local airport and was put through to the flight control supervisor on duty. After giving him a synopsis of the event, he took my name and number, promising to call me back once he spoken to the controllers that were on duty the night before.

He called back soon afterwards to say that he had spoken to the men who operated the radar as well as flight screens, and neither had seen anything unusual.

However, a gentleman who works in the tower told the supervisor that he had been walking towards the tower at that time and had seen the same object in the night sky.




NUFORC Note:

We spoke at length via telephone with this witness, and we found him to be exceptionally objective and eloquent in his description of the sighting event. We suspect that he is a highly reliable, and capable, witness. PD


Posted 2014-01-16

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