Light over Portland, OR
A witness account on file, unevaluated. Most of the archive rests here, and honestly so.
The report, as filed
My husband and I were watching tv when we heard a helicopter. Within a minute or so it got very loud and the windows started to rattle. It was obviously a military helicopter flying low. We have experienced this on occasion, but never have the windows rattled like this instance. My husband and I looked at each other, jumped up and ran outside, looking north. It was a clear night and an almost full moon, which was in the eastern sky. What made this encounter interesting enough to report was not just the helicopter. We are somewhat in the flight path of PDX and have planes flying over, so I know how fast they go. When we went out, the helicopter was just flying over our house in a NNW direction. In front of it, also flying NNW, was a small bright white light -- low on the horizon and flying VERY fast. No sound could be heard other than the helicopter. Interestingly, there were two airplanes flying south higher then the light and the helicopter. They had typical airplane lights and followed the normal flight pattern we usually see from planes flying over. Again, what was noteworthy about this experience was the speed and low altitude at which the white light was traveling, plus the military helicopter following it (I don't know if I would say pursuing it). I don't know if the light was ET, but we would definitely call it a UFO because of the nature of the encounter. Maybe something military?
Held as-reported from National UFO Reporting Center (record NUFORC #136554). Witness text is preserved verbatim, including its spelling; nothing is edited beyond formatting.
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Routed to: Federal Aviation Administration · records window 2017-10-01 → 2017-10-18
From the same sky
Related entries
October 19, 2023 · 8:20 PM · TRIANGLE
Portland, OR
My girlfriend picked me up to go to the store. As soon as we started heading south we noticed 3 very bright lights in the sky, flashing colors not typical of aircraft, satellites, planets or stars. I immediately had a gut feeling I knew what it was. Upon driving to the store to get a better view, I noticed they changed positions slightly. Once at the door I was able to locate them again and finally snap a picture with my phone that has 100x zoom. As you can see, the light pattern is not typical of anything usual. I proceeded to try and take video, but my camera can't take video at that zoom level. We went into the store and came out. They were all gone.
October 18, 2023 · 10:35 PM · CHANGING
Portland, OR
In sky above me in SE portland oregon. I first noticed bright light in sky hovering at 10:35pm and when I zoomed in saw it changing shape and size. A streak went across sky from one end of horizon to another. From north to south. A friend an hour away in newburg about same time saw bright light across sky too. I have video and pictures of everything but the streak
October 4, 2023 · 6:09 PM · SPHERE
Portland, OR
Exited swan mart with 4 year old son. While placing son in car seat, he reports “look at those lights, mama.” I look around parking lot and said, “what lights?” He stated, “No mama, in the sky.” I viewed glimmer lights, about 15 orbs in a V formation, at the same altitude as birds(was low) at onset. Secured son in car seat with tablet to distract, closed door of car. I then took pictures and video for 3-4 min or strange lights. . They were nothing I had seen. No sound or wings observed. The orbs reflected light and were glimmering. Initially, moved north but dissolving into the sky at times, very hard to see. Orbs, reappeared far in the distance (toward the NE) on one occasion briefly, then again dissolved into the clear sky that evening. Reappeared one final time, near the SW and disappeared into the sky. [NUFORC annotation: Birds - Possible]
September 6, 2023 · 11:19 AM · CIRCLE
Portland, OR
See above
September 6, 2023 · 11:00 AM · SPHERE
Portland, OR
Slowly moving and hovering over the City for the last hour.
August 23, 2023 · 4:53 AM · SPHERE
Portland, OR
Saw stationary lights in the sky northeast of me. At first I thought they were the lights of a cell phone tower. But I know the area well and there was no tower in that direction. Observed lights for about 23 minutes. Lights remained stationary for a long time. Then they shifted very quickly to the right. And again remained stationary. I was able to take pictures with my cell phone, but It’s an old flip phone and doesn’t have a great camera. At the end of the sighting the lights moved away to the north out of view. This movement was extremely fast. Almost in an instant. That the thing that astounded me about this sighting. Is how it remained stationary for so long. Then in an instant it moved. First to another position in the sky. And then out of sight. Is speed was incredible. For the entire encounter the lights were silent. I worked in the airlines for over 20 years. I’ve worked security for 3 years. I’ve never seen anything like it. From experience, I know this was not plane, helicopter, and it moved too fast to be a drone. I’m stumped.