NUFORC Sighting 55703

Occurred: 2007-02-26 15:00 Local
Reported: 2007-03-14 01:10 Pacific
Duration: 2-3 seconds
No of observers: 1

Location: in flight, AZ, USA

Shape: Triangle
Characteristics: Aircraft nearby

Orange triangle viewed by passenger from flight over Arizona desert

February 26, 2007 on a flight from Chicago to LA for a business meeting, while at about 30,000 feet over the desert (AZ.?), It was about 3 p.m., and the sky was cloudless.

From my window seat at the right side of the plane, I observed an object to the north, not much lower than my airplane. Object was within 1,000 feet or maybe less by my estimate, & was large enough to be seen clearly. It had a metallic orange color, and was a rounded, triangular shaped solid object.

Its appearance reminded me of a kite or a top, although thicker in proportion than a kite & similar to the helium balloons at the supermarket. Although it was observed in a very bright sky, there was not a shiny metallic reflection, and no visible seams, markings, windows, edges or lights. It was positioned vertically, as if it was standing on end, and did not have a horizontal (flat) flight appearance.

Speed and direction could not be estimated visually with any certainty or accuracy, given the effect of the airliner’s flight speed on perception of movement outside the plane. However, I had the sense that it was flying east, which was opposite the direction of my flight. At that relatively close distance it was only visible for perhaps 2 or 3 seconds, before the wing obscured further viewing of the object.

My first reaction was that I thought I was seeing a near miss. Not dangerously so, but too close to be within normal tolerances. It definitely was not any kind of airplane, and if that was a weather balloon, it sure seemed like it was too close to our plane for safety! I wonder if the cockpit radar registered this object?

As far as my background, I am a 46 year old male self employed in real estate consulting. I was not drinking or hallucinating, and have no history of delusional perceptions or behavior. While I can't verify the object was extra-terrestrial, my observations were clearly identifed to the best of my ability, & it is fairly classified as an unidentified flying object.

Posted 2007-04-27