Bright Light That Seems to Hover? How Aircraft Lights Fool People
Aircraft account for a large share of UFO reports. A plane flying straight towards you with its landing lights on can look like a brilliant light hanging motionless for minutes. At night, strobes and coloured navigation lights add to the effect.
What it looks like
- Flashing white strobes, a red light on the left wing and a green one on the right.
- A very bright, steady light that seems to hover, then slowly grows or turns.
- Engine noise, sometimes arriving after the plane has passed overhead.
- Several lights moving together when a few planes are lined up to land at a nearby airport.
How to check
- If it is happening right now, our sky checker shows live aircraft within 50 km.
- Flight-tracking apps show aircraft positions in real time.
- Note whether there is an airport in that direction: landing approaches follow the same paths every day.
Questions
Why does a plane look like it is hovering?
When an aircraft flies directly towards you its position in the sky barely changes, so its landing lights seem to hang still until it turns or gets close.
What do the colours on a plane mean?
Red is on the left wingtip, green on the right, and white strobes and tail lights help other aircraft see it.