A commercial airline pilot reported seeing an unidentified object hovering close to his aircraft shortly after takeoff, a sighting that prompted surprise from air traffic controllers monitoring the flight.
According to aviation sources, the incident occurred as the jet climbed away from the airport and the pilot radioed air traffic control about an object maintaining proximity to the aircraft. Controllers responded with audible surprise and advised the pilot to maintain his course while they checked radar and other tracking systems.
Officials said the unidentified object appeared on some surveillance data but did not show up on all tracking equipment, complicating efforts to verify its exact position or nature. No other aircraft were scheduled in the immediate vicinity at the time, and there were no immediate safety issues reported by the flight crew.
Federal aviation authorities are reviewing flight data, radar recordings, and pilot reports as part of a preliminary inquiry into the sighting. Investigators noted that further analysis is needed to determine whether the object was a known aircraft, a drone, atmospheric anomaly, or something else.
The airline confirmed that the flight landed safely at its destination and that passengers were unaware of the unusual report at the time. Aviation safety experts say initial reports of unidentified aerial phenomena are carefully reviewed to rule out technical or environmental explanations before drawing any conclusions.