Other over Oklahoma City, OK

The report, as filed

Reporting Party Background: -FAA Licensed Private Pilot (helicopter rated). -Former Police Officer. -Employed 36 years in a line of work which requires keen observation, analysis and reporting. As a Pilot, I know a little about flight operations and characteristics, especially associated with those craft which fly low and slow like the helicopter I fly. Summary of Video: The video is poor resolution, periodically showing the flashing rear red lights (a large triangle pattern) located at the tail of the craft. Video time stamp for the lights: at 3 to 30 seconds, flashing approximately every second (located middle right of screen), then at 29 to 34 seconds (middle left of screen), and at 1:15 to 1:19 (middle). Incident Details: At around 11:00pm November 21st, 2015, I was driving North on Hastings when at the intersection of Coachman Rd and Hastings I noticed what appeared to be a large fixed wing passenger plane coming in for final approach to Sundance Airpark runway 36, which is located within one mile to the NE. I didn’t pay much attention to it. I noticed a white male jogger with black hair at that same intersection who looked back at the craft as well, so I know there was at least one other witness. I continued North on Hastings and stopped at Surrey Hills Blvd where the craft (single hand hex dumb bell - much thicker in the middle - see my sketch) had quickly descended from an altitude of around 500-800ft AGL to a full stop hover around 75ft AGL and directly over the Church of the LDS gold horn blower Christus Statue, brightly illuminated by upward pointing spot lights. The craft began flashing several large lights (located flush in the belly and seemingly at least 10ft in diameter each) i! n varied patterns of colors normally associated with the old color projection television sets (red, green, blue, etc). This really captured my full attention. I was so mesmerized that I failed to start my phone camera……..either that or something else kept me from engaging my camera. The craft appeared to be at least the length of the LDS building (190ft appx) and about 4-5 stories in height. My outstretched hand holding a cantaloupe would have covered the craft, viewed from 500ft away. The craft made no engine noise whatsoever, except for sporadic compressed air sounds (perhaps bow thrusters – not the same sound that hot air balloon igniters make). When I finally engaged my camera video and looked back toward the craft, it had just departed from hover and traveled directly over Surrey Hills Blvd in a Westerly direction. I followed at 30mph until I ran out of road. I estimate the craft was at an altitude of appx 100ft AGL and traveling no more than 35mph, all the whi! le making no noise. It was completed blacked out except for a! large t riangular pattern of 3 red lights located at the tail, slowly flashing appx once per second (was not an LED flash; more of a glow from dim to bright). Note that lighter than air craft (like hot air balloons) have no propulsion or motors that I know of, as they travel at the mercy of the wind direction. I first thought this had to be a drone or lighter than aircraft, however, how could that be true when it was the size of a large building? Besides, FAA requires Drone Pilots to obtain special authorization in order to operate at night, and the drone cannot weigh more than 55 pounds. I do not believe a “Lighter than Air” craft can operate at night without being tethered to the ground, and I do not believe they are equipped with flashing likes those required on standard manned aircraft.

Held as-reported from National UFO Reporting Center (record NUFORC #156433). Witness text is preserved verbatim, including its spelling; nothing is edited beyond formatting.