Encounter Atlas
FAA pilot reports / Virginia
Pilot UFO reports over Virginia
19 reports from aircrews in the FAA's released UAP files, January 15, 2015 to October 22, 2024.
- October 22, 2024 01:54 UTCLinden, Virginia
EDV4925 · CRJ9 · 36,000 ft
Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon off the left side while SW bound at FL360, over LDN. The unknown phenomenon was bright white and yellow flashing lights, stationary at approximately FL500 to FL600. The UAP was not observed on ATC facility radar system.
- October 28, 2023 08:43 UTCLynchburg, Virginia
AAL2928 · A319 · 35,000 ft
Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon while E bound at FL350, 20 NM N of LYH. The unknown phenomenon was 3 bright white lights on a single object mostly stationary at very high altitude. FDX1402, B763, MEM-EWR, FL350 reported same object. Both aircraft observed lights for the previous 300 miles.
- October 28, 2023 04:43 EDTLynchburg, Virginia
American 2928 · A319 · 35,000 ft
PRELIM INFO FROM FAA OPS: LYNCHBURG, VA/UFO-UAP ACTIVITY/0443E/WASHINGTON ARTCC ADVISED AMERICAN 2928, A319, MONTERREY, MEXICO (MMMY) - JFK, REPORTED A UAP WITH 3 BRIGHT LIGHTS WHILE S BOUND AT FL350 20 N LYH. NO EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN. LEO NOTIFICATION NOT REPORTED. FEDEX 1402 ALSO REPORTED UAP SIGHTING.
- March 22, 2023 03:35 UTCLawrenceville, Virginia
SWA1307 · B38M · 41,000 ft
Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon 100NM off the left side while N bound at FL410, 10NM E of LVL. The unknown phenomenon was described as flashing lights above them. No evasive action taken. TY, AWO advised.
- March 22, 2023 00:15 EDTLawrenceville, Virginia
Southwest 1307 · B38M · 41,000 ft
PRELIM INFO FROM FAA OPS: LAWRENCEVILLE, VA/UFO-UAP ACTIVITY/0009E/WASHINGTON ARTCC ADVISED SOUTHWEST 1307, B38M, RSW BWI, AIRCRAFT REPORTED AN UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL PHENOMENON ON LEFT SIDE OF AIRCRAFT WHILE N BOUND AT FL410 10 E OF LVL VORTAC. THE UNKNOWN PHENOMENON WAS DESCRIBED AS FLASHING LIGHTS ABOVE THEM AT A DISTANCE OF 100 MILES. NO EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN.
- February 24, 2023 16:10 UTCManassas, Virginia
DCA1: DCA250018, primary target, heading 100 degree, 100 knots. 1615 PCT, HEF, and DAA no communication with target. 1616 BLKJK scrambled, ADW Battle Stations. WADS radar was displayed target at 16000ft. 1617 ONEC convened. 1618 Sparkle at DCA210011. BLKJK held in FRZ. since target was outbound from FRZ. 1635 Aircraft exited SFRA at the DCA130030. ADW canceled all tactical actions. BLKJK RTB. 1640 NCR condition clear. ONEC terminated. WADS continued to track. No visual verification. PCT will file the MOR. JH notified.
- January 26, 2023 21:15 UTCLynchburg, Virginia
N541Z · F2TH · 43,000 ft
Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon while SW bound descending from FL430. The unknown phenomenon was an object traveling SW bound descending into cloud base cover 10 miles N of LYH. The object was observed for 100 miles.
- January 26, 2023 20:53 UTCLynchburg, Virginia
N926FM · E135 · 36,000 ft
Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon off the 12 o'clock while descending from FL360 to FL340, 10 miles NE of LYH. A projectile was observed climbing passing through FL360 with a smoke trail going straight up. The unknown phenomenon was described as a shiny missile traveling vertically through FL360 approximately 10 to 30 miles S of LYH. LEO report not provided.
- January 26, 2023 19:15 ESTLynchburg, Virginia
N541Z · F2TH · 43,000 ft
PRELIM INFO FROM FAA OPS: LYNCHBURG, VA/UFO-UAP/1915E/ATSC ADVISED N541Z, DASSAULT F2TH, TEB - CLT, REPORTED AN UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL PHENOMENON WHILE SW BOUND DESCENDING FROM FL430. UAP WAS AN OBJECT TRAVELING SW BOUND DESCENDING INTO CLOUD BASE COVER 10 N LYH. THE OBJECT WAS OBSERVED FOR 100 MILES.
- January 26, 2023 18:53 ESTLynchburg, Virginia
N926Fm · E135 · 36,000 ft
PRELIM INFO FROM FAA OPS: LYNCHBURG, VA/UFO-UAP/1853E/ATSC ADVISED N926FM, EMBRAER E135, UNKN DEPARTURE ARPT CLT, REPORTED AN UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL PHENOMENON AT THE 12 O'CLOCK POSITION WHILE DESCENDING FROM FL360 TO FL340 10 NE LYH. THE UAP WAS OBSERVED CLIMBING THROUGH FL360 WITH A SMOKE TRAIL. THE UAP WAS DESCRIBED AS A SHINY MISSILE SHAPED OBJECT APPROXIMATELY 10-30 S LYH. LEO NOTIFICATION NOT REPORTED.
- May 12, 2022 08:05 UTCCasanova, Virginia
UPS1114 · MD11 · 31,000 ft
Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon off the 12 o'clock while NE bound at FL310 over CSN VORTAC. The unknown phenomenon was an equally spaced line of very bright lights moving Eastward away from their aircraft high above their altitude. LEO notification was not made. The flight crew was given the website address to report their sighting. VTE611 reported the same sighting. AWO notified.
- May 12, 2022 08:05 UTCCasanova, Virginia
VTE611 · E35L · 39,000 ft
Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon off the 12 o'clock while NE bound at FL390 over CSN VORTAC. The unknown phenomenon was an equally spaced line of very bright lights moving Eastward away from their aircraft high above their altitude. LEO notification was not made. The flight crew was given the website address to report their sighting. UPS1114 reported the same sighting. AWO notified.
- March 10, 2022 00:39 UTCLynchburg, Virginia
N499PA · H25B · 40,000 ft
Aircraft reporting observing a possible UFO with a line of stationary strobe lights far above his aircraft while SW bound at FL400 10 miles N of LYH. The strobe lights turned off a few seconds afterwards.
- March 9, 2022 19:39 ESTLynchburg, Virginia
N499Pa · H25 · 40,000 ft
PRELIM INFO FROM FAA OPS: LYNCHBURG, VA/UAS INCIDENT/1939E/WASHINGTON ARTCC ADVISED N499PA, RAYTHEON H25, TEB - PDK, OBSERVED A UAS WHILE SOUTHBOUND AT FL400 10 N LYNCHBURG. ACFT DESCRIBED UAS AS A "UFO WITH A LINE OF STATIONARY STROBE LIGHTS ABOVE". NO EVASIVE ACTION REPORTED. NO LEO NOTIFICATION PROVIDED.
- August 28, 2021 06:34 UTCRichmond, Virginia
SWA2067 · B737 · 40,000 ft
Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon off the front while N bound at FL400 over RIC. The unknown phenomenon was strobing in a race track formation near DCA at approximately FL550 or above. Object not visible at 0637 or later. AWO/TSOC/WOC/CM notified.
- June 4, 2021 15:02 UTCArlington, Virginia
Arlington County Police Department reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon in the Fort Myer area. The unknown phenomenon was possibly a large balloon traveling eastbound at approximately 600 to 1000 feet.
- May 20, 2021 19:49 UTCRichmond, Virginia
40,000 ft
Mode C intruder alert observed by controller moving slowly to the NW 50 SE of RIC @ FL400. 2 aircraft at FL390 were queried. First aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon just above them at FL400 and second aircraft (some time later) saw contrails above them at FL400. HQ DEN requested CONR to look at replay. CONR observed primary target off the HPW031 at 12 NM. The unknown phenomenon was traveling NW bound at approximately FL400. HQ DEN asked AMOC for replay and negative results found. ZDC reported calls signs of two previous aircraft as SCX3036 and PPJ510.
- April 26, 2021 05:45 UTCNear Washington, Virginia
N39RC · C560 · 45,000 ft
PIC of N39RC and JBU1380 reported a UFO described as a white, rapidly circling light at approximately FL450 in the vicinity of IAD231240 out of the right side of the ACFTs. Both pilots reported it was short in duration and disappeared at the same time. AWO/JH notified.
Original report (PDF) National Archives catalog (placed approximately)
- January 15, 2015 08:05 UTCNear Washington, Virginia
TCF641 · E170, EMBRAER, 170
ACFT reported 5 or 6 UFOs at 28,500 15 E of 38N. Other ACFT have reported strobing lights in the vicinity. NORAD advised no activity in the area. EADS advised.
Original report (PDF) National Archives catalog (placed approximately)