NUFORC Sighting 167700

Occurred: 2022-04-20 22:21 Local
Reported: 2022-05-01 10:01 Pacific
Duration: 10-15s
No of observers: 1

Location: Riverdale, MD, USA
Location details: Along tree line of park

Shape: Other
Characteristics: Lights on object

Low flying, single, non-rotary craft with 3-4 distinct solid red lights

Aitcraft flying south to north through Riverdale Park exactly at 2221EDT. Solid object, matte black or gun metal gray, with 3-4 solid, red lights. No flashing, no pulsing, no other colored lights. It made sound but not unbearably loud despite being within 150 meters of my location, flying at low altitude, estimate at under 150 feet. (My guess is based on experience rapelling from a helicopter at 90 feet).

Flew just behind the trees at treetop or near treetop level from East West Highway toward the direction of College Park/Greenbelt. Took two pictures immediately when I noticed it wasn't rotary craft. Lousy camera, two images. Prior to images, my thought was that was almost rectangular or angular in its shape. I then snap two images Immediately. The first appears to show single craft with what looks like three red lights through the trees. Then as it moves north about 25-50 meters past treeline, I take another image on the same setting with no flash and ordinary daytime setting, with no trees to block a visual of said craft. It is dark, the only light to illuminate is from streetlights. So there is trail/artifact of light from craft in image from south to north direction. It appears to be three lights in an isoscoles shape. The oddest thing is that when I snapped the image, one cannot see an outline of the craft, but I know it was visible, and the lights were at the aircraft's border.

I'm not convinced it's not a legitimate aircraft, but given it's very low altitude, solid red unblinking lights only, the lack of decibels, lack of rotars, it's size (dismissing small drone), aircraft did not appear to be in distress as it continued its flight path, and my experience around military aircraft, I am at a loss for words as to what I witnessed.

Immediately after taking both images, I went to flight radar. Flight radar indicated only two nearby rotary crafts, one belonging to PG County Police a bit northwest of College Park, and one near Silver Spring. Both were too distant to explain what I observed.

While this path is heavily trafficked for aircraft around the NCR and to College Park, BWI, DCA, and Andrews, it was unusual for the reasons described above. Can anything typical explain this?

Posted 2022-05-31