American Airlines 2292 'cylinder'
- Date
- 21 Feb 2021
- Place
- Over north-eastern New Mexico west of Des Moines, at about 36,000 ft (Cincinnati to Phoenix), United States
- Record
- Curated case
- Assessment
- Unexplained
- Evidence strength
What was reported
On 21 February 2021 the crew of American Airlines flight 2292, an A320, radioed Albuquerque Center that 'a long cylindrical object that almost looked like a cruise missile type of thing' had passed very fast right over the top of them. The recording was published by John Greenewald's Black Vault, American Airlines confirmed the transmission, the FBI said it was aware of the report, and the FAA said controllers saw no object on radar. No identification has been published; a high-altitude balloon or a misjudged distant aircraft are the conventional proposals.
What officials concluded
No conclusion stated
No official explanation has been given.
Strongest ordinary reading
None established; a balloon or other aircraft are proposed
Evidence profile
- Yes: Visual
- No: Infrared
- No: Radar
- No: Video
- No: Photo
- No: Film
- Yes: Audio
- No: Night vision
- No: Other sensor
- No: Civilian
- No: Military aircrew
- No: Military ground
- Yes: Airline crew
- No: Sensor operator
- No: Law enforcement
- No: Scientist
- No: Astronaut
- No: Intelligence official
- No: Other
- No: Light only
- No: Orb or sphere
- No: Disc
- No: Triangle
- Yes: Cylinder
- No: Cube
- No: Other shape
- No: Physiological
- No: Physical trace
- No: Electromagnetic
- No: Sound
- No: Silent
Outside sources
On the map
36.76° N, 103.84° W, plotted at the centre of the region named in the record
Show on the map