Pilot spots unidentified disc shaped object near Gatwick Airport aircraft

The record

Written from the 1 report below. Nothing here is unsourced.

A pilot of an Airbus A319 preparing to land at Gatwick Airport reported seeing a disc-shaped object about 100 feet from the aircraft on April 29, 2026, at around 11:30 am while flying at 8,500 feet.
The UK Airprox Board investigated but could not identify the object, recording it as an 'Unknown Object', though it found no real collision risk since the plane was already turning.
Radar data and drone records gave no clues, and no other pilots confirmed the sighting, though air traffic control issued warnings as a precaution.
The report has reignited UFO discussions, with around 90 similar sightings claimed in Britain this year, even though the Ministry of Defence closed its UFO desk in 2009.

Any further findings or updates from the UK Airprox Board on the unidentified object
Whether UK authorities reintroduce a formal channel for reporting UFO sightings
Trend in the rising number of unidentified object sightings reported across Britain

1 report

Indian-language1

All filed from India

Named United Kingdom · Gatwick Airport · Ministry of Defence · Nick Pope · UFO Identified · UK Airprox Board

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