RAF Logs Two Near-Misses With Unidentified Objects

The Royal Air Force recorded two near-miss encounters with unidentified objects during training flights over the North Sea area in February, according to incident logs described in reporting. The objects’ identity, origin and intent have not been confirmed, and the accounts do not establish that they were hostile or controlled by a state. The first reported encounter occurred on February 18 near Norfolk, while an RAF Voyager tanker refuelled a Typhoon fighter. The object was reported at about 17,000 feet, and the tanker pilot reportedly ducked as it passed close to the aircraft. Those details come from the account of the incident logs, rather than direct testimony included in the reports. A second sighting was reported on February 23, during dogfighting exercises involving a Typhoon about 30 miles offshore. The pilot saw what was described as a black, tire-sized object above the aircraft. The precise distance between the object and the Typhoon was not consistently detailed in the accounts. The reported encounters took place at altitudes far above the usual 400-foot limit for commercial drones in the United Kingdom. The sightings were reported to police, and external...