Encounter Atlas
FAA pilot reports / Iowa
Pilot UFO reports over Iowa
13 reports from aircrews in the FAA's released UAP files, December 11, 2022 to March 10, 2023.
- March 10, 2023 09:00 UTCFort Dodge, Iowa
VIR156T · B789 · 37,000 ft
Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon off the left side while ENE bound at FL370, in the vicinity of FOD. The unknown phenomenon were three very bright lights "very high in the sky" with various brightness rotating around each other rapidly. No evasive action. AWO advised.
- March 10, 2023 03:00 CSTFort Dodge, Iowa
United Kingdom Registered Virgin 156 · B789 · 37,000 ft
PRELIM INFO FROM FAA OPS: FORT DODGE, IA/UFO-UAP ACTIVITY/0300C/MINNEAPOLIS ARTCC ADVISED UNITED KINGDOM REGISTERED VIRGIN 156, B789, LAS - LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (EGLL), REPORTED AN UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL PHENOMENON OF 3 LIGHTS WITH VARIOUS BRIGHTNESS/INTENSITY FROM THE 11 O'CLOCK POSITION WHILE ENE BOUND AT FL370 VCNTY FORT DODGE. NO EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN. NO LEO NOTIFICATION. MULTIPLE ACFT REPORTED SIMILAR SIGHTINGS.
- February 11, 2023 09:10 UTCIowa City, Iowa
DAL384 · B738 · 37,000 ft
Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon off the left side while east bound at FL370, over lowa City. The unknown phenomenon was an aircraft circling at or above their altitude appearing and disappearing. AMOC added that the same report came in last week and it was a "train" of satellites. TY notified.
- February 11, 2023 09:05 UTCIowa City, Iowa
NKS656 · A20N · 37,000 ft
Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon off the left side while east bound at FL370, over lowa City. The unknown phenomenon was an aircraft circling at or above their altitude appearing and disappearing. AMOC added that the same report came in last week and it was a "train" of satellites. TY notified.
- February 11, 2023 09:00 UTCIowa City, Iowa
AAL403 · A320 · 37,000 ft
Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon off the left side while east bound at FL370, over lowa City. The unknown phenomenon was an aircraft circling at or above their altitude appearing and disappearing. AMOC added that the same report came in last week and it was a "train" of satellites. TY notified.
- February 11, 2023 03:07 CSTIowa City, Iowa
Delta 384 · B738 · 37,000 ft
PRELIM INFO FROM FAA OPS: IOWA CITY, IA/UFO-UAP ACTIVITY/0307C/CHICAGO ARTCC ADVISED DELTA 384, B738, SAN - JFK, REPORTED LIGHTS CIRCLING OFF LEFT SIDE AT SAME ALTITUDE OR HIGHER WHILE E BOUND AT FL370 VCNTY IOWA CITY. SIMILAR PHENOMENA WERE REPORTED LAST WEEK AND WERE DETERMINED TO BE A CHAIN OF SATELLITES. LEOS NOT NOTIFIED.
- February 11, 2023 03:05 CSTIowa City, Iowa
Spirit 656 · A20N · 37,000 ft
PRELIM INFO FROM FAA OPS: IOWA CITY, IA/UFO-UAP ACTIVITY/0305C/CHICAGO ARTCC ADVISED SPIRIT 656, A20N, LAX - PIT, REPORTED LIGHTS CIRCLING OFF LEFT SIDE AT SAME ALTITUDE OR HIGHER WHILE E BOUND AT FL370 VCNTY IOWA CITY. SIMILAR PHENOMENA WERE REPORTED LAST WEEK AND WERE DETERMINED TO BE A CHAIN OF SATELLITES. LEOS NOT NOTIFIED.
- February 11, 2023 03:02 CSTIowa City, Iowa
American 403 · A320 · 35,000 ft
PRELIM INFO FROM FAA OPS: IOWA CITY, IA/UFO-UAP ACTIVITY/0302C/CHICAGO ARTCC ADVISED AMERICAN 403, A320, DEN - PHL, REPORTED LIGHTS CIRCLING OFF LEFT SIDE AT SAME ALTITUDE OR HIGHER WHILE E BOUND AT FL350 VCNTY IOWA CITY. SIMILAR PHENOMENA WERE REPORTED LAST WEEK AND WERE DETERMINED TO BE A CHAIN OF SATELLITES. LEOS NOT NOTIFIED.
- February 7, 2023 10:00 UTCDes Moines, IowaStarlink mentioned
UAL1164 · B738
Multiple aircraft reported multiple unidentified aerial phenomenon 50 NM north of DSM moving to the ESE "well above them", 60,000+. The unknown phenomenon was bright flashing lights similar to landing lights. ATC advised them to file a UAP MOR. ATSC and OMIC correlated the report to a STARLINK satellite train consisting of 3-4 groups of 4 units (approximately 20 satellites). FAA NORAD conferenced and concurs.
- February 3, 2023 04:01 UTCSioux City, Iowa
UAL1046 · B738 · 36,000 ft
Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon above them while W bound at FL360, 37NM NE of SUX. The unknown phenomenon had lights and appeared to be maneuvering at approximately FL400 or above.
- February 2, 2023 21:56 CSTSioux City, Iowa
United 1046 · B738 · 36,000 ft
PRELIM INFO FROM FAA OPS: SIOUX CITY, IA/UFO-UAP/2156C/MINNEAPOLIS ARTCC ADVISED UNITED 1046, B738, ORD - SEA, REPORTED BRIGHT LIGHTS 4,000 FEET ABOVE WHILE W BOUND AT FL360 27 ENE SIOUX CITY. NO EVASIVE ACTION REPORTED. LAW ENFORCEMENT NOTIFICATION NOT REPORTED.
- February 1, 2023 05:45 CSTMerrill, Iowa
PRELIM INFO FROM FAA OPS: MERRILL, IA/UFO-UAP/0545C/FAA CENTRAL ROC ADVISED A CONCERNED CITIZEN STATED THEY SAW SOMETHING GREEN THE SIZE OF A CAR FALL FROM THE SKY NEAR MERRILL. REPORT WAS RELAYED TO PLYMOUTH COUNTY SHERIFF. SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT STATED THERE WAS A KNOWN GREEN METEOR FLYING OVER SKY DURING THE REPORTED TIME.
- December 11, 2022 09:15 UTCDes Moines, Iowa
UAL2247 · B752 · 35,000 ft
MOR was filed for a multitude of reports, but info was very vague. HQ DEN contacted ZMP and requested info be collected to complete entry. ZMP has updated MOR to reflect. All flights reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon off the 12 o'clock while E bound at varying altitudes and distances from DSM. They reported Orbs of light moving in various directions. ZMP provided UFO reporting Center numbers to all flights. Below is a list of flights that reported the phenomenon. AWO notified. UAL1204 0922Z DSM246035 FL350 UAL1786 0929Z DSM244050 FL350 UAL362 0930Z DSM263100 FL350 AAL2453 0931Z DSM199050 FL350 ASA392 0932Z DSM227155 FL350 UPS957 0933Z DSM234155 FL390 AAL756 0936Z DSM255180 FL330 DAL2683 0936Z DSM239117 FL350 FFT2034 0942Z DSM240118 FL350 UAL2247 0948Z DSM240166 FL370 UAL1391 0950Z DSM258238 FL350