Pilots report UFO sightings

Feb 9 2008

The Press Association

Three pilots were among more than 100 people who reported sightings of UFOs in the UK last year.

The Ministry of Defence took details of 135 events in which strange, unexplained objects were seen in our skies.

The number of unexpected visitors seems to be rising - just 97 were reported in 2006.

A flying saucer was reported in Stafford, Staffordshire, small stationary aircraft in Wirksworth, Derbyshire and a fast moving triangular shaped object in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

In most of the reports the witness is unidentified but in two cases the file notes that the phenomenon was witnessed by pilots.

Two pilots in the air over Alderney reported two bright orange objects and another pilot in the south west of the country saw a balloon-like object.

Many of the reports refer to bright lights although some callers have insisted they saw "a definite UFO".

In one case a man calling from Cardiff, Wales reports that spaceships appeared and abducted his dog, car and tent.

The Ministry of Defence has released the file as part of its plan to open its archives on UFO research and sightings.

A spokeswoman said that the incidents are recorded but unless some security threat is suspected the Ministry has not investigated the cause of the sightings any further.