A seasoned astronaut's routine private flight took an extraordinary turn when he encountered unexplained aerial objects during a solo journey.
According to the New York Post, former NASA commander Leroy Chiao revealed his close encounter with two metallic spherical objects while piloting his private aircraft from Colorado to Houston, Texas, in August 2024.
The incident occurred at an altitude of 9,000 feet in clear weather conditions over the Texas panhandle. Chiao, who has commanded three Space Shuttle missions and led Expedition 10, described the objects as metallic spherical orbs measuring approximately three feet in diameter each, positioned one above the other.
Chiao described the unexpected nature of the encounter during an interview with NewsNation. The objects appeared suddenly and passed within dangerous proximity to his aircraft, estimated at merely twenty feet from his left side.
The former astronaut, speaking to The Hill on NewsNation, shared his account of the incident. Here's what he stated:
That was in August, I was flying back from Colorado and I just refueled in the panhandle of Texas in my small airplane and I was flying back to Houston. Clear air and I was about 9,000 feet.
And suddenly, out of nowhere, these two big, metallic, spherical orbs, one on top of the other about three-feet in diameter each, went zipping by the left side of my airplane, right underneath, about twenty feet away.
What makes the incident particularly puzzling is that neither Chiao's radar system nor air traffic control detected the presence of these objects. The veteran space commander speculated that the orbs might be part of a military drone program, though he acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding their origin.
The incident adds to a growing collection of similar sightings, including recent drone phenomena reported in New Jersey since November 18. These sightings have expanded to include Staten Island in subsequent weeks.
In a related development, local news helicopter footage captured an orb-like object moving at high speed over the Hudson River, potentially originating from New Jersey. This sighting bears similarities to Chiao's experience, suggesting a possible pattern.
The Pentagon has previously addressed similar phenomena, releasing radar footage of an unidentified orb moving through military-controlled airspace. Officials admitted they could not identify the object, adding another layer of mystery to these aerial encounters.
The August 2024 incident involving former NASA commander Leroy Chiao represents a significant aerial encounter that occurred during a private flight from Colorado to Houston. The veteran astronaut, with extensive experience in both atmospheric and space flight, reported nearly colliding with two metallic spherical objects over the Texas panhandle at 9,000 feet altitude.
The objects, which appeared suddenly and went undetected by both radar and air traffic control, have added to the ongoing discussion about unexplained aerial phenomena in American airspace.
The incident coincides with multiple similar sightings across the northeastern United States, particularly in New Jersey and New York, suggesting a broader pattern of unexplained aerial activities that continue to challenge conventional explanations.
