Suspected UFO Identified As Part Of Pyrotechnic Air Show

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A video showing a purported UFO over Tampa Bay on January 20, 2008 has been indentified. The unusual, dueling fireballs rocketing and curling through the air that early evening were part of an air show during Tampa's annual Gasparilla Pirate Festival.

Three Orlando residents on their way to an unrelated event in Tampa recorded over three minutes of footage of what appeared to be a very unusual object flying in the air over Tampa. They released almost a minute of the video to WFTV.com, who reported on the suspected UFO this past Friday

The video recorded shows an orange glow in the sky over Hillsborough County. At times, the streaking orange glow appears to be two separate 'fire balls.' The video was recorded on a mini-DV tape using a handheld Sony HD camera.

"I wish I could explain what it was that I saw, but I can't, because of all the different things it did," said passenger Kniki Freeman, who witnessed the flying object.

WFTV.com confirmed Monday, while the video shows some strange fire in the sky over Tampa Bay, the flying object was actually a T-6 plane used in the Bill Leff Starfire Night Skyshow, which was one of the performances at the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. The Skyshow uses an AT-6 "Texan" aircraft with pyrotechnics on each wing and roman candles that can be launched during the approximately 14-minute choreographed performance.

Bill Leff confirmed to WFTV.com that he began flying the evening of January 20 between 6:00pm and 6:30pm and that it is not unusual to have UFO reports connected with his performances. Leff told WFTV.com of a previous incident in downtown Chicago that had 911 calls pouring in.

Leff said they always alert local law enforcement before the performance to deal with the expected calls.