Seeking Help to Identify a Sighting
Time: Late night to early morning, around February 22nd.
Location: Southwest Michigan, near Grand Rapids
A family member reported seeing a plane or flying object, which I’ve attempted to illustrate above. Their description includes:
- Very short body relative to its wing span
- Emitting an intense, bright white light not aligned with its flight path
- An olive green color
- Front lights appearing red and green
- Faint white lights on the leading edges of the wings
- It appeared to be flying at a low altitude
While this seems like it could be a military aircraft, after 20 years of service, I’m struggling to identify anything that fits this description.
For context, Michigan is home to several Air National Guard bases, and it’s not uncommon to spot fighter jets, especially in the northern part of the state. Southern Michigan also sees transport aircraft, but I can’t pinpoint any that match this sighting.
I apologize for the vague date and time. Any insights would be appreciated!
It sounds like a fascinating sighting! Given the details provided, it might be a challenge to pinpoint the exact aircraft, but a few possibilities come to mind:
Military Aircraft: Given your military experience and the presence of nearby Air National Guard bases, it could indeed be a military aircraft. The description of a low-flying, olive green aircraft with bright lights doesn’t match the typical commercial planes but might align with certain military transport or reconnaissance aircraft.
Experimental Aircraft: There are also instances where experimental or prototype aircraft could be tested outside normal hours. These might not conform to standard design or color schemes.
Drones: While the description suggests a larger aircraft, the possibility of a military drone should not be dismissed. Some drones have designations that might match your description when modified for specific missions.
Civilian Aircraft: It’s worth considering an unconventional civilian craft. Some smaller aircraft might have unique paint jobs or lighting setups, especially those designed for night operations.
Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP): Given that you mention it seems different from typical aircraft, it could also fall within the UAP category, which encompasses sightings that don’t conform to known aircraft types.
If you’re interested in further investigation, you might want to check local flight tracking apps or websites that monitor air traffic, especially around the military bases. It could provide additional context or possibly corroborate other reported sightings in the area. Would you like more insight on how to investigate further?