A pilot flying a private aircraft reported spotting a strange object hovering near his plane while flying over Rhode Island, adding another puzzling case to a growing number of unexplained aerial sightings.

The incident was highlighted in a video shared on YouTube by the aviation channel VASAviation in October. In the recording, the pilot contacts air traffic controllers at Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport after noticing a small metallic object near his aircraft.

According to the radio exchange, the pilot described the object as a small silver cylinder that appeared to be hovering motionless in the air. “It appears to be standing still,” the pilot told air traffic control. He later added that it looked like “a strange small object we just floated by,” asking controllers if they had any information about what it might be.

Air traffic controllers responded that there were no known aircraft in the immediate area and asked whether the object could have been a drone or a balloon. The pilot, however, said he saw nothing attached to it and could not identify any features suggesting it was tethered or controlled.

The object was reportedly observed near the right wingtip of the aircraft—a Piper PA-32RT-300T Turbo Lance II—while it was flying at an altitude of about 3,500 feet. According to the pilot, the metallic cylinder briefly hovered near the aircraft, then moved alongside it before disappearing from sight.

The unusual report prompted reactions from both controllers and other pilots monitoring the frequency. One person on the ground described the encounter as “creepy,” while an air traffic controller jokingly wished the pilot “good luck with the aliens.” Other pilots listening to the exchange also joined the conversation, with one saying he was inclined to believe the report.

In response to inquiries about such incidents, the Federal Aviation Administration said it records reports of unidentified aerial phenomena whenever pilots notify air traffic control. If additional evidence—such as radar data—supports the report, the information may be shared with government groups studying unidentified aerial phenomena.

Several U.S. government agencies currently maintain programs to analyze reports of unusual objects in the sky. While many sightings ultimately receive conventional explanations, some cases remain unexplained and continue to draw interest from aviation authorities and researchers alike. 🛩️👽