A commercial airline pilot in the UK reported seeing a mysterious disc-shaped object pass alarmingly close to a passenger aircraft while approaching London Gatwick Airport, triggering an official aviation safety investigation. The incident took place on 29 April 2026 but only came to wider public attention after the UK Airprox Board published its report. According to investigators, the unidentified object flew within around 100 feet of an Airbus A319 at an altitude of about 8,500 feet, close enough for the board to conclude that the aircraft's safety had been reduced, although there was no actual risk of collision. Despite reviewing radar data and other available evidence, officials were unable to determine exactly what the object was.
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