Changing over Hobbs, NM

The report, as filed

I work at a gas plant between two small towns on the state line between southern New Mexico and Texas. There is generally just two persons manning the plant during the night shift. While making rounds I noticed what at first appeared to be a single flashing red light (like a typical radio tower light) to the north of my position. The light was unusual so I stopped the vehicle and watched it. It was moving slowly in a westward direction toward town. While I was watching, the light split into three lights making a perfect upright triangle. The blinking frequency did not change. There was a beam of light the same color and intensity of the corners of light connecting the three points. When this happened I called the other operator at the control room on the radio for him to go outside and look at what I was seeing. As soon as he answered me the lights went back into one red light with white lights flashing beside it and appeared to be a normal airplane. I told him to disregard, whatever it was was gone.

Held as-reported from National UFO Reporting Center (record NUFORC #115465). Witness text is preserved verbatim, including its spelling; nothing is edited beyond formatting.