Pilot Reports Encounter with Unidentified Object in Rhode Island

A pilot operating a private Piper PA_32RT_300T reported an unusual sighting in U.S. airspace while flying at high altitude over Rhode Island. The pilot observed a small silver cylinder hovering near the wing of his plane, which appeared to move alongside the aircraft before vanishing from view.

In a video of the incident, the pilot communicated with air traffic control, stating, "It seems to be stationary." Air traffic controllers suggested the object might be a drone or a balloon, but the pilot dismissed these theories, describing the experience as "amazing."

Other pilots in the vicinity echoed similar sentiments over the radio. One remarked, "I want to believe it," while others joked with air traffic controllers, saying, "Good luck with the aliens."

* Expert Insights

Experts have offered various explanations for the sighting:

• Mick West, a science writer, proposed that the object could be a weather balloon.

• Anthony Dorman, founder of Electronic Caregiver, noted that balloons often carry cylindrical payloads and can reflect sunlight, which might cause them to appear stationary in the air. He mentioned that hobbyists frequently test such devices at low altitudes, which could account for the object's movement.

* Previous Similar Encounter

This incident follows a report from retired Air Force Major Ryan Budenheimer, who described a close encounter with a rectangular unidentified flying object while flying with a squadron of F-15 and F-16 fighter jets over southern Wyoming. Budenheimer referred to the experience as the "strangest" of his career, detailing how the object appeared suddenly and nearly collided with his aircraft. He described it as a glowing rectangle, measuring 30-50 feet in length, traveling at nearly 460 miles per hour without emitting a vapor trail or radar signal.

* Ongoing Speculation

As videos and accounts of the incident circulate, the nature of the unidentified object remains a topic of speculation, with theories ranging from military tests and weather balloons to the possibility of extraterrestrial life, fueling discussions in both aviation and space exploration communities.