Washington National Airport: American Airlines DC-6 Near-Collision with Streamlined Object
On May 29, 1950, an American Airlines DC-6 departing Washington National Airport veered to avoid a brilliant object described as 'a perfectly streamlined object without wings or tail section.'
Background
An American Airlines DC-6, soon after takeoff from Washington National Airport on May 29, 1950, confronted a brilliant object coming straight on and veered to avoid a collision. The captain later reported: 'As I looked to my left the object appeared to come to a stop. It appeared as a perfectly streamlined object without wings or tail section ...' In seconds the intruder circled around to the right and paced the plane, then turned away abruptly. 'We watched it for several more seconds until it disappeared in the east out of sight. I have never seen anything like it before or since.'