Kansas: Multiple pilots report UAP lights at 35,000ft
Multiple pilots observed a formation of flashing white lights over Kansas at 35,000 feet. The phenomenon tracked the aircraft for over 100 miles and lasted more than 35 minutes. The FAA officially classified the incident as an Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon.
Background
On September 27, 2022, at approximately 07:54 UTC, the crew of Gulfstream IV aircraft N127RR reported an unusual aerial phenomenon while flying southeast bound at flight level 350. The aircraft was positioned approximately 50 nautical miles west-northwest of Liberal, Kansas, when the crew observed what they described as numerous flashing white lights below their altitude. The lights appeared to follow the aircraft, with the crew tracking them for at least 50 miles, though observations continued for over 100 nautical miles.
Air Traffic Control recordings captured communications between multiple aircraft and Kansas City Center over approximately 35 minutes as pilots attempted to identify the source. Controllers investigated possible ground-based explanations such as stadium lighting or concert events, but could not correlate the sightings with any known activities in the sparsely populated area. The original reporting pilot initially believed the lights were on the ground, though this seemed inconsistent with the aircraft's cruising altitude of 35,000 feet.
The Federal Aviation Administration officially classified the incident as an "Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon" in their database. Documentation obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests included ATC audio recordings spanning 33 minutes of relevant communications. The sighting involved numerous pilots across multiple flights, confirming a multi-witness observation of an aerial object or phenomenon that remains unidentified.