NUFORC Sighting 164470

Occurred: 2021-08-29 12:30 Local
Reported: 2021-08-29 19:58 Pacific
Duration: 3 seconds
No of observers: 1

Location: Des Moines, WA, USA

Shape: Sphere
Characteristics: Aircraft nearby

Spherical White Object Seen from Aircraft While Landing at SeaTac Airport

I was on Alaska Airlines flight #1460 from Las Vegas to Seattle, seated in a window seat 7A. I was looking out the window as we flew over Tacoma, making a left turn into SeaTac to land. At about the time we were flying over Des Moines on final approach I saw an object appear to be level with us, either stationary or slowly moving relative to the plane. As we flew by, it was only visible for a few seconds.

The object was perfectly spherical and white in appearance. It was not reflective, but smooth. It's difficult to estimate it's size and distance, but my guess is it was about 100 to 200 feet from the left wingtip, and 3' to 6' in diameter.

My first thought was that it might be a balloon, except that it was perfectly spherical (nothing was hanging from it) and opaque white in color, not transparent at all.

Posted 2021-09-07