Another 'Airliner-Spots-Rocket/Missile' Story...

[deandome]

https://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6453529.html

Sigh....maybe the BATFE is trying a new, backdoor approach to controlling/eliminating HPR.

 

[jadebox]

Sigh....maybe the BATFE is trying a new, backdoor approach to controlling/eliminating HPR.

More likely, these reports are common and always prove to be nothing. So, no others in the media bother to report them.

But the Houston Chronicle likes to make a big deal about the reports - sort of like the National Enquirer and UFO reports.

-- Roger

 

[Mikus]

Actually it was 1st reported on the ABC affiliate here in Houston.

 

[skycopp]

probably a pointy-headed bird.

On another note, I flew back from Houston last night on a Continental flight.

hmmmm.

 

[roadkill]

Anything flying at 13.000 feet and passing below
a commercial airliner within 150 feet most likely has
to be military ordnance....

The few rocketeers capable of doing 13.000 feet
plus know better than go wildcat launching one
of the big ones....

Has to be military related hardware....

 

[Patch]

I noticed today that on Fox News, that the FBI is investigating whether it might be a party or a Hobbiest. I certainly hope it isn't a wildcatter.

 

[jadebox]

Anything flying at 13.000 feet and passing below
a commercial airliner within 150 feet most likely has
to be military ordnance....

The few rocketeers capable of doing 13.000 feet
plus know better than go wildcat launching one
of the big ones....

Has to be military related hardware....

It's more likely that it wasn't anything like a rocket or missile.

You have to apply Occam's razor to situations like this.

It would be very remarkable of a rocket or missile were able to come that close to an airplane at 13,000 feet (either intentially or not). It would be even more remarkable if someone were able to launch such a rocket or missile without anyone on the ground seeing it. It would be even more remarkable if the rocket or missile left no sign on the ground.

It wouldn't be remarkable at all if the pilots misinterpreted what they saw.

Law enforcement officials spent a lot of time in the '50s and '60s chasing down UFO reports from pilots and others. Now, it's "rocket" or "missile" reports. Granted rockets or missiles are much more likely to be seen than UFOs. But, they still aren't very likely explanations for these sightings.

As an analogy, people used to tell stories of being abducted by ghosts. Then the UFO craze started and people became convinced they were abducted by space aliens. Just because space aliens are much more likely to exist than ghosts, doesn't make it very likely that these alien abduction stories have any merit.

-- Roger

 

[WiK]

Hmm, I didn't know Colorado was near Sweden...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_rockets