This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46181662
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| UFOs spotted off Irish coast under investigation | UFOs spotted off Irish coast under investigation |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The Irish Aviation Authority is investigating reports of bright lights and UFOs off the south-west coast of Ireland. | The Irish Aviation Authority is investigating reports of bright lights and UFOs off the south-west coast of Ireland. |
| It began at 06:47 local time on Friday 9 November when a British Airways pilot contacted Shannon air traffic control. | It began at 06:47 local time on Friday 9 November when a British Airways pilot contacted Shannon air traffic control. |
| She wanted to know if there were military exercises in the area because there was something "moving so fast". | She wanted to know if there were military exercises in the area because there was something "moving so fast". |
| The air traffic controller said there were no such exercises. | The air traffic controller said there were no such exercises. |
| The pilot, flying from the Canadian city of Montreal to Heathrow, said there was a "very bright light" and the object had come up along the left side of the aircraft before it "rapidly veered to the north". | The pilot, flying from the Canadian city of Montreal to Heathrow, said there was a "very bright light" and the object had come up along the left side of the aircraft before it "rapidly veered to the north". |
| She was wondering what it could be but said it did not seem to be heading for a collision. | She was wondering what it could be but said it did not seem to be heading for a collision. |
| Another pilot from a Virgin plane joined in and suggested it might be a meteor or another object re-entering the earth's atmosphere. | Another pilot from a Virgin plane joined in and suggested it might be a meteor or another object re-entering the earth's atmosphere. |
| He said there were "multiple objects following the same sort of trajectory" and that they were very bright. | He said there were "multiple objects following the same sort of trajectory" and that they were very bright. |
| The pilot said he saw "two bright lights" over to the right which climbed away at speed. | The pilot said he saw "two bright lights" over to the right which climbed away at speed. |
| One pilot said the speed was "astronomical, it was like Mach 2" - which is twice the speed of sound. | One pilot said the speed was "astronomical, it was like Mach 2" - which is twice the speed of sound. |
| "Following reports from a small number of aircraft on Friday 9 November of unusual air activity the IAA has filed a report," the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) said. | |
| "This report will be investigated under the normal confidential occurrence investigation process." | "This report will be investigated under the normal confidential occurrence investigation process." |
| A spokesperson for Shannon Airport said it would not be appropriate for the airport to comment while the IAA investigation is ongoing. |