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Bird, Plane or Drone? Mystery Object Nearly Collides With a Corporate Jet Over Denver

May. 17, 2012 4:51pm Liz Klimas

Corporate Jet Pilot Reports Spotting an Unknown Object, FAA Investigates

Cessna aircraft similar to that the pilot was flying. (Photo: Wikimedia)

A pilot flying at Cessna Citation 525 CJ1 corporate jet over Denver called into air traffic control and told them some strange object — not appearing on the plane’s radar — flew by. The Federal Aviation Administration is now investigating the incident that happened early Monday evening.

The local station KUSA-TV has the story:

Greg Feith, former investigator for the NTSB who is now a KUSA aviation analyst, speculating the object could have been a military drone, private, remote-controlled aircraft or a bird strike. The station contacted law enforcement officials and states “no one has been able to tell us if a drone was flying over Denver.”

As for remote-controlled aircraft, it contacted the Denver RC Eagles that pointed out its members do not fly more than 400 feet above ground level or 5,700 above sea level so as to not risk interfering with air traffic. The pilot was flying at 8,000 feet and described the object as a “large, remote-controlled aircraft.”

Animation showing the event that took place with the mystery object. (Image: 9News screenshot)

KUSA also spoke with FAA spokesperson Mike Fergus who said the agency would be speaking with the pilot, trying to pinpoint the time and contacting local remote-control clubs.

[H/T Drudge Report]

This story has been updated for clarity.

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Comments (47)

Ceefour
Posted on May 18, 2012 at 7:23am
Jeepers creepers..everybody can see from the picture thats it is a flying circle with na question mark inside….

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- Dismayed Veteran
  Posted on May 18, 2012 at 11:42am
  Those damn flying circles with question marks again. I keep asking “What” but I don’t get an answer.
  
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- Belchfire V-8
  Posted on May 18, 2012 at 1:38pm
  As long as it isn’t an exclamation point.
  
  Report this comment
Slowman101
Posted on May 18, 2012 at 2:06am
Probably a drone. Remember people: NO OBAMA 2012!

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FreedomPurveyor
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 11:20pm
I’m not saying it was aliens, but, it was aliens.

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Blazen420
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 11:06pm
What’s the big deal anyway? We all know that only rich, evil, white, job providers fly in private jets.

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Blazen420
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 11:00pm
OK, so how many of species of large birds fly solo at 8000 feet? These neos think we are all as dumb and gullible as they are.

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- EchoChuck
  Posted on May 18, 2012 at 12:03am
  i agree that it probably was not a bird, i am an air traffic controller and around a year ago i had a fedex jet hit a bird around 9000 feet and take out his windshield, so although very rare, not impossible
  
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- Belchfire V-8
  Posted on May 18, 2012 at 12:24am
  Actually some birds fly above 20000 feet. Check it out.
  
  Report this comment
needmoinfo
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 10:40pm
What does it cost to make and fly these things? Are they for military use in time of war or monitoring nuclear weapons in the middle east? Why are they flying over us. Probably extra security for Obama wan kenoclue. If he would quit screwing over the people he wouldn’t have to be so paranoid.

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needmoinfo
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 10:33pm
Nixon was impeached for spying on Watergate. Obama is spying on everybody and wants to disarm us too.

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- Free2speakRN
  Posted on May 18, 2012 at 1:09am
  I’ve been thinking about that for a long time. What is different about Obama and Watergate? Outside of Obama being much, much Worse! Eric Holder?!!! Now there’s a thief of justice. How fast they and their gang brought this country down. It was on its way, but not like this at all.
  
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OHSundevil
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 8:57pm
Welcome to the hellish police state…

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The-Monk
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 8:53pm
Was that actual footage from the plane in question? If so, why did they blure it?

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spirited
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 8:47pm
Maybe President Obama just wanted to take some shots like he did in New York;^>remember?

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Wolfgang the Gray
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 8:19pm
Big Brother is watching.

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RailRoadCar9
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 8:09pm
possibly a bird ? at 8000 ft isnt that high for birds? i mean i never really thought about it but it does seam too high to me ,

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- jhaydeng
  Posted on May 17, 2012 at 9:09pm
  It was a bird with an oxygen mask on silly!
  
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sndrman
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 7:24pm
the democrats told you they don’t like private planes unless it is for democrats and their donors…..so it must not have been a democrat on the private plane get it …….next time fly commerical plane as told to ceo’s………….

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AOBBO
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 7:12pm
Airplane altimeters read MSL mean sea level and not AGL above ground level. So Denver is around 5,800 feet above sea level and the airplane is indicating 8,000 feet the hight the above the ground would be 2,200 feet.

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- snufy
  Posted on May 17, 2012 at 8:48pm
  Maybe he was using his radar altimeter, which shows AGL.
  
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- AOBBO
  Posted on May 17, 2012 at 9:09pm
  Possible but not likely radar altimeters are used during the approach phase of flight and normally don’t show an altitude until your below 2,500 feet AGL
  
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Belchfire V-8
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 6:31pm
It was just the mythical Thunderbird, don’t worry about it.

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Marty
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 6:25pm
Yet, we will do nothing!!!

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Elena2010
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:53pm
Bird strikes leave blood while drones/RC planes leave scratches.

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- Belchfire V-8
  Posted on May 17, 2012 at 6:32pm
  Only if you hit it, not if you MISS it.
  
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ZaphodsPlanet
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:33pm
I can’t remember where I read it but I seem to remember something about radical islamist taking an interest in very large RC aircraft. Either way this could end up getting really messy. If it was a drone why in the heck are they not equipped with their own radar. They also shouldn’t be running in some kind of stinking stealth mode over our country so airline and private planes equipped with their own radar will see them.

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Bill Wallace
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:29pm
Remote clubs?

How long before there is an incident where a drone takes out something like a plane? I would love to be a jury member for that civil suit. See how the government deals with a verdict against it of $30 million. $2.3 million for the value of the CJ1, and $27.7 million in damages for the loss of life and being an idiot.

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- KC1
  Posted on May 17, 2012 at 6:00pm
  At least we can rely on Romney to stand up for our right to privacy and individual liberty. Well, except for the TSA pat downs, NDAA, the Patriot Act, Romney/Obama care, HISPA/SOPA, Cap and Trade, EPA, but besides that Im sure hes a staunch constitutionalist.
  
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- Salamander
  Posted on May 17, 2012 at 8:40pm
  Just think how lucky that corporation with the jet will be when their pilot runs down a drone! Since there is no one abord the drone, there is no liability for loss of life (on the drone)!
  
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- RepubliCorp
  Posted on May 17, 2012 at 9:59pm
  KC1 / NeoLib : still whipping that dead horse…..
  Your guy is and always has been a zero
  
  Report this comment
IndyGuy
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:26pm
We in America now have the equivalent of KGB and gestapo within our Government…It’s past time that WE THE PEOPLE put a stop to it…

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Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:20pm
One of Janet’s Or Eric’s?

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Seneca264
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:17pm
This is not an amateur remote controlled aircraft. The control transmitters do not have an 8000 feet range and the FAA already knows this. Pelicans do not fly at 8000 feet altitude, that is the end of that excuse. The FAA already knows it was either a military or police drone but will have to cover it up since the FAA airspace plan and rules for operating drones in US airspace is getting ready to be released. Like I stated a couple of weeks ago. It is only a matter of time before a drone collides with a commercial plane. Wait and see. Just keep in mind one thing and you will be okay…..Obama’s Marxist government always lies. If they say it is, you know it isn’t. If they say it isn’t, you know it is. It really is that simple folks.

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- ALOHA-SNACKBAR
  Posted on May 17, 2012 at 6:11pm
  Seneca264: Pelicans do not fly at 8000 feet altitude, that is the end of that excuse.
  I have seen on at least two occasions pelicans flying over the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park. It was the craziest thing Icouldn’ttbelievee my eyes the first time I saw it, I was on Trail Ridge Road at the Forest Canyon Overlook, and about six of them soared right by, thealtitudee we where at was 12,000 feet give or take some change and they came from the west. Then the following year I saw another group on the east side of the park soaring really high probably on a migration route. But I agree with you this was no birdespeciallyy a huge white and black pelican with a four foot long beak.
  
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KILLACOMMIE4MOMMY
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:16pm
I did not know Denver had buildings that went almost 8000 feet into the air!!!! WOW!!!

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- Rebel9
  Posted on May 17, 2012 at 6:50pm
  I don’t know what you people are talking about. Look at the picture. Its not a bird or a drone. It’s clearly a giant red ball with strange question-mark-shaped markings on it.
  
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mike_trivisonno
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:11pm
Add your comments

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mike_trivisonno
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:11pm
If jihadis get access to armed drones, they will use them to attack America.

Stop Jihad.

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- Smokey_Bojangles
  Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:21pm
  I am more worried about the Government.
  
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- kaydeebeau
  Posted on May 17, 2012 at 7:37pm
  Well it is seeming that the 2 are one in the same…..
  
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- ENIGMA28724
  Posted on May 17, 2012 at 7:38pm
  Who says it was flown by jihadists? I wouldn’t put it past certain sectors in our government to cause a crash on purpose for political reasons. These people are out of control of anyone.
  
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- mike_trivisonno
  Posted on May 18, 2012 at 6:53am
  “…Well it is seeming that the 2 are one in the same…..”
  
  I think you re right. The level of infiltration of our political, spiritual, and cultural institutions by muslims engaged in jihad is frightening. Luckily every act they commit is a crime for which they will eventually have to pay.
  
  All we have to do is declare ware on Saudi Arabia.
  
  Report this comment
- Welcome Black Carter
  Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:12am
  No doubt a Chi-com recon project.
  
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