Leroy Chiao, a former NASA astronaut and Space Shuttle commander, has revealed a startling encounter with two unidentified flying objects while piloting his private plane over Texas last summer.
The objects, described as “metallic, spherical orbs,” came dangerously close to his aircraft.
A Close Encounter at 9,000 Feet
In an interview with NewsNation, Chiao recounted the incident that occurred during a flight from Colorado to Houston in August. Flying at 9,000 feet in clear skies, Chiao described the moment as sudden and alarming.
“Out of nowhere, these two big, metallic, spherical orbs—each about three feet in diameter—zipped by on the left side of my plane, just twenty feet away,” Chiao recalled. “One was stacked above the other. I got a good look at them, but it all happened so quickly there wasn’t even time to feel scared.”
No Radar Detection or Communication
Chiao noted that the orbs did not appear on his plane’s radar, nor did air traffic control notify him of their presence. The lack of detection left him puzzled.
“My first guess is that it’s some kind of military program, maybe drones, but it’s hard to say,” Chiao admitted. He attributed the near-miss to “dumb luck,” emphasizing how disastrous a collision could have been.
Ongoing UFO and Drone Sightings
Chiao’s encounter adds to a growing number of reports involving unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs). Recent months have seen a spike in mysterious drone sightings across New Jersey and Staten Island. Some of these drones exhibit high-performance capabilities that have baffled observers.
Last month, local news in New York captured footage of an orb-like object speeding over the Hudson River. Similarly, in 2023, the Pentagon released radar footage of a metallic orb moving through military-controlled airspace, stating that it could not be identified.
A Broader Mystery
Chiao, who has flown three Space Shuttle missions and spent six months aboard the International Space Station, expressed skepticism about the government’s lack of clarity on these phenomena.
“It’s hard to believe the government doesn’t know what’s going on,” he said, referencing the mysterious drone activity in New Jersey and beyond.
While the origins of these metallic orbs remain unclear, Chiao’s account highlights the growing intrigue—and concern—around unidentified objects in the skies, fueling debates about advanced drone technology, military programs, or even extraterrestrial activity.
