NUFORC Sighting 02088

Occurred: 1997-03-20 20:25 Local
Reported: 1997-03-20 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 5-10 secs
No of observers: 2

Location: Whitefish, MT, USA

Shape: Light
Characteristics: Aircraft nearby

Summary : orange lights (not shaped likeaircraft) about 1000 feet overhead followed closely by jet (wingsvisible naked eye). Only soundsof one aircraft.

While viewing Hale Bopp in NNWsky, noticed an orange light moving quickly with an aircraft following closely behind movingwest to east. The second object was clearly an airplane with wings, fusilage, runninglights-- visible with naked eye (andbinoculars) and sound of jet engine.Only one engine noise heard. The orange object appeared to have 3 smaller orange lights associated with it, visible in binoculars only.These orange lights were closer together than the running lights ofthe trailing airplane, and were ina straight line. They never seemedto move relative to one another.No visible structural bodyassociated with orange lights.The sighted plane and lights wasabout 500-1000 feet above theground and maybe 1000-2000 feetaway. The sighting was made in anarea of tall trees, and moved quicklyout of line of sight. The aircraft trailin lights was extremely close tothe lights it followed-- at arm'sdistance about as far apart aswidth of a fist.Towards end ofsighting, the space between closed a bit.

Posted 1998-03-07

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