Encounter Atlas
FAA pilot reports / North Carolina
Pilot UFO reports over North Carolina
22 reports from aircrews in the FAA's released UAP files, January 13, 2012 to July 27, 2024.
- July 27, 2024 16:17 UTCWilmington, North Carolina
EJA627 · C68A
Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon while SW bound at 40,000 feet, 20 NM NE of ILM. The unknown phenomenon was White/Metallic cylindrical object near the aircraft at approximately 38,000 feet. The UAP was not observed on ATC facility radar system.
- July 27, 2024 12:17 EDTWilmington, North Carolina
Netjets 627 · C68A · 40,000 ft
PRELIM INFO FROM FAA OPS: WILMINGTON, NC/UFO-UAP ACTIVITY/1217E/WASHINGTON ARTCC ADVISED NETJETS 627, CESSNA C68A, MMU - BCT, REPORTED A WHITE AND METALLIC UAP WHILE SW BOUND AT FL400 20 NE WILMINGTON. EVASIVE ACTION NOT REPORTED. LEO NOTIFICATION NOT REQUIRED.
- February 24, 2024 02:43 UTCWilmington, North Carolina
N5430G · GLF5 · 45,000 ft
Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon 12 O'clock while N bound at FL450, 140 NM S of ILM. The unknown phenomenon was 2 white lights that appeared stationary at approximately FL490. The UAP was not observed on ATC facility radar system.
- February 24, 2024 02:39 UTCWilmington, North Carolina
NKS1777 · A321 · 35,000 ft
Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon 12 O'clock while N bound at FL350, 140 NM S of ILM. The unknown phenomenon was 2 white lights that appeared stationary at approximately FL490. The UAP was not observed on ATC facility radar system.
- February 23, 2024 21:39 ESTWilmington, North Carolina
Spirit 1777 · A321 · 35,000 ft
PRELIM INFO FROM FAA OPS: WILMINGTON, NC/UFO-UAP ACTIVITY/2139E/JACKSONVILLE ARTCC ADVISED SPIRIT 1777, A321, FLL - EWR, REPORTED AN UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL PHENOMENON AT THE 12 O'CLOCK POSITION WHILE N BOUND AT FL350 140 S ILM. THE UAP WAS DESCRIBED AS 2 WHITE LIGHTS THAT APPEARED STATIONARY AT FL490. UAP WAS NOT OBSERVED ON RADAR.
- February 23, 2024 21:30 ESTWilmington, North Carolina
N5430G · GLF5 · 45,000 ft
PRELIM INFO FROM FAA OPS: WILMINGTON, NC/UFO-UAP ACTIVITY/2143E/JACKSONVILLE ARTCC ADVISED N5430G, GULFSTREAM GLF5, PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS (MBPV) - EWR, REPORTED AN UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL PHENOMENON AT THE 12 O'CLOCK POSITION WHILE N BOUND AT FL450 140 S ILM. THE UAP WAS DESCRIBED AS 2 WHITE LIGHTS THAT APPEARED STATIONARY AT FL490. UAP WAS NOT OBSERVED ON RADAR.
- August 11, 2023 06:39 UTCRaleigh, North Carolina
TAI580 · A320
Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon on the RDU235030 while N bound at 31,000 feet. The unknown phenomenon was flashing white lights rapidly climbing and descending. No description or distance reported. PIC said they see this object every time they pass this area of the US. The PIC did not believe it was LEO Satellites. EADS/NORAD/NCRCC notified.
- August 11, 2023 02:41 EDTRaleigh/Durham, North Carolina
El Salvador Registered Taca 580 · A320 · 31,000 ft
PRELIM INFO FROM FAA OPS: RALEIGH/DURHAM, NC/UFO-UAP ACTIVITY/0241E/WASHINGTON ARTCC ADVISED EL SALVADOR REGISTERED TACA 580, A320, SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR (MSLP) - IAD, REPORTED AN UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL PHENOMENON WITH WHITE FLASHING LIGHTS WHILE N BOUND AT FL310 30 SW RDU. NO EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN. NO LEO NOTIFICATION REPORTED.
- May 3, 2023 06:35 UTCFayetteville, North Carolina
NKS2078 · A20N · 35,000 ft
Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon off the right side while N bound at FL350, over FAY. The unknown phenomenon was circling lights high above and to the NE. Appears to correlate with Star Link satellites. No LEO information provided.
- April 17, 2023 04:30 UTCSouthern Pines, North Carolina
FFT1164 · A321
Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon off the L side while NE bound at 35,000 feet, 17 NM SE of SDZ, directly over Mackall AAF (SDZ170014). The unknown phenomenon was flashing lights traveling SE bound at approximately 35,000 feet. ZDC was receiving intermittent primary targets. ZDC contacted UFO reporting center.
- April 17, 2023 01:06 EDTSouthern Pines, North Carolina
Frontier 1164 · A321 · 35,000 ft
PRELIM INFO FROM FAA OPS: SOUTHERN PINES, NC/UFO-UAP ACTIVITY/0030E/WASHINGTON ARTCC ADVISED FRONTIER 1164, A321, MCO - PHL, REPORTED AN UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL PHENOMENON OFF THE LEFT SIDE WHILE NE BOUND AT FL350 14 S SANDHILLS VOR (SDZ). PHENOMENON WAS TWO INTERMITTENT FLASHING LIGHTS TRAVELING SE BOUND AT FL350. NO LEO NOTIFICATION REPORTED.
- March 22, 2023 03:25 UTCRocky Mount, North Carolina
SWA1913 · B737 · 39,000 ft
Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon 100NM off the left side while N bound at FL390, 6NM SE of TYI. The unknown phenomenon was described as flashing lights above them. No evasive action taken. TY, AWO advised.
- August 17, 2022 05:00 UTCFayetteville, North Carolina
SWA2826 · B38M · 39,000 ft
Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon from the front side while NE bound at FL390, 38 NM S of FAY. The unknown phenomenon was a bright light in a holding pattern in the upper atmosphere in the vicinity of 37:49N/78:01W, approximately 40 NM NW of RIC. Two other aircraft reported seeing same object. At 0450 SWA1875, B737, MIA-BWI, from the left side, while NE bound at FL390, 9 NM S of LVL. At 0455 SWG603, B738, MUCC-CYUL, from the front side, while N bound at FL380, 26 NM SW of LVL. 0540 Additional aircraft reported seeing same object, SWG411, B38M, MDPP-CYYZ, from front side, while N bound at FL 370, 38 NM NW of RIC. PIC indicated they though phenomenon was star link satellites reflecting sunlight. TY/AWO notified.
- August 14, 2022 05:40 UTCWilmington, North Carolina
N728HG · GLEX · 45,000 ft
Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon off their left side while SW bound at FL450, 195NM S of ILM. The unknown phenomenon was described as 3 lights in a row and above them in a geosynchronous orbit. AWO/TY advised.
- August 14, 2022 03:22 EDTWilmington, North Carolina
45,000 ft
PRELIM INFO FROM FAA OPS: WILMINGTON, NC/MISCELLANEOUS/0322E/REPORTED POSSIBLE UFO LOCATED AT 11 O'CLOCK POSITION AT FL450 WHILE WESTBOUND 95 SE ILM. THE PILOT DESCRIBED IT AS 3 LIGHTS IN A ROW ABOVE THEM THEY SAID THE LIGHTS WERE IN A GEOSYNCHRONOUS ORBIT. SEVERAL OTHER AIRCRAFT REPORTED THE SAME SIGHTING.
- August 8, 2022 04:48 UTCWilmington, North CarolinaStarlink mentioned
LRC662 · A320 · 37,000 ft
Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon off the left side while N bound at FL 370, over ILM. The unknown phenomenon was 5 to 6 lights making 360's at a very high altitude over RDU. 0503 ZDC reports another pilot (FFT1242) observed the lights and believes they are Starlink satellites. 0606 HQ DEN notified UFO Reporting Center. AWO/TY notified.
- May 23, 2022 22:24 UTCSouthern Pines, North Carolina
NKS1028 · A319 · 28,000 ft
At 2131 aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon while NW bound at FL280, vicinity of SDZ. The unknown phenomenon was described as an object traveling E to W bound at approximately same altitude. 2250 HQ DEN AADS replay shows no identified traffic in the vicinity. 2257 Pilot of aircraft called HQ DEN at request to further detail incident. Pilot believes may have been a military aircraft, viewed during climb between FL250-280, however ZDC reported no traffic in vicinity when queried and the target did not display on aircraft's TCAS. ZDC has created FALCON replay of incident and pilot will call OM to discuss report. JH notified.
- August 22, 2021 16:30 UTCKinston, North Carolina
N398WF · PA46 · 20,000 ft
Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon off of left side while SW bound at FL200, 10 NM NE of ISO. No other information was given by the pilot or facility. National UFO reporting number called. AWO/CM notified.
- March 8, 2021 05:42 UTCKinston, North Carolina
DAL1748 · A320
At 0539 PIC reported seeing a UFO in the vicinity of ISO (approximately ISO230040), two bright lights between ORF and RIC that appeared like a formation flight flying overhead northeast bound. At approximately 0543Z, they reported to the controller that the formation appeared to fly toward them, then turned around. UFO reporting center notified. JH notified.
- December 26, 2020 21:41 UTCRaleigh, North Carolina
AWI3763 · CRJ2
At 2055 aircraft reported a silver UFO pass overhead while NE bound at 29,000 feet, 13 NM SW of RDU. No evasive action was taken. UFO reporting center notified by HQ DEN at 2145.
- November 14, 2020 01:45 UTCGreensboro, North Carolina
PDT6182 · E145
PIC reported a UFO at 3615N 8047W, 15,000 north bound. UFO reporting center notified.
- January 13, 2012 23:55 UTCElizabeth City, North Carolina
FIV546 · C560, CESSNA, 560
1825 ZDC OM reported that FIV546 and WJA2668 atFL400 reported seeing a UFO ten miles south of Elizabeth City, NC (ECG); both ACFT were southbound at the time. No positive radar tracks observed in the area and no other known ACFT.PXT Approach and Giant Killer were contacted; no reports of spill outs from warning area.
All FAA reports · Air Force Blue Book files from North Carolina