In the early hours of January 19, an extraordinary incident unfolded over the Canadian Prairies as pilots reported witnessing “multiple lights sometimes in a triangle formation,” adding to the growing list of perplexing aerial phenomena. The event, documented through audio recordings obtained by CTV News, has left aviation professionals and enthusiasts speculating about the nature and origin of the mysterious lights.
Multiple pilots, including those on Air Canada and Flair Airlines flights, described the peculiar movements of the lights, ruling out the possibility of satellites due to their distinct behavior. The 13-minute audio clip, condensed from 2.5 hours of raw audio from LiveATC.net, captures the bewilderment of pilots and air traffic controllers between approximately 4:20 a.m. and 6 a.m. CST.
An air traffic controller in Winnipeg relayed information from a company aircraft over Thunder Bay, suggesting satellites as a possible explanation. However, pilots from various flights quickly dismissed this idea, highlighting the lights’ unique behaviors, such as moving side-to-side, separating, and forming triangular patterns.
One pilot on a Flair Airlines flight from Vancouver to Toronto described the lights as being in a “random movement up and down, left, right, all over the place.” Another pilot, flying a Morningstar Air Express cargo flight from Calgary to Toronto, unequivocally stated, “Definitely not satellites. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen in the 15 years of night flying that I’ve done.”
The estimated altitude of the lights, reportedly as high as 100,000 feet, intrigued aviation professionals and prompted discussions about potential explanations. At least four different aircraft, including Flair and Morningstar jets, as well as two Air Canada flights, reported seeing the lights that morning.
Transport Canada’s online aviation incident database, CADORS, recorded the incident on January 23, acknowledging the unusual sighting. While Transport Canada emphasizes that such reports are preliminary and subject to change, the incident has raised questions about the investigative and follow-up procedures for unexplained aerial phenomena.
Nav Canada, responsible for managing Canada’s civilian air navigation infrastructure, reported the incident to federal transportation officials and military authorities, including the Canadian Air Defence Sector in North Bay, Ont., which monitors the northern approaches as part of Norad, the joint Canada-U.S. defence group.
Military sources typically state that they do not investigate sightings of unknown phenomena unless there is a credible threat or distress situation. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and Transport Canada declined to provide additional details on the incident and any potential responses.
Experts and enthusiasts have offered varying opinions on the cause of the lights. Mick West, known for debunking conspiracy theories, attributes the phenomenon to sunlight reflecting off SpaceX Starlink satellites. However, UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) researcher Robert Powell disputes this explanation, emphasizing the momentary nature of satellite flaring.
The incident highlights a broader trend of mysterious aerial sightings, with pilots from other flights reporting similar phenomena over Canada in recent months and years. The lack of systematic investigation and closure for such incidents has sparked concerns among aviation professionals.
Donald “Spike” Kavalench, a retired Transport Canada surveillance pilot, voiced his frustration, questioning the absence of follow-up reports. “It is unacceptable that we seem to have a reporting system with nothing at the other end and no system for investigation and closure,” he remarked.
As the interest in unidentified aerial phenomena grows, the incident on January 19 adds another layer to the ongoing exploration of mysterious encounters in Canadian airspace. The federal government’s Sky Canada Project, aiming to release a public report on Canadian UAP procedures in 2024, underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to understanding and addressing unexplained phenomena in the skies.