Leroy Chiao, a former NASA astronaut, recently shared a startling encounter with two metallic spherical objects while flying over Texas in August. These objects, each about three meters in diameter, flew just six meters away from his aircraft and remained undetected by both radar and transponders.
Chiao speculates that the objects may be part of a secret military program, but the lack of government transparency leaves many questions unanswered. This incident, occurring at an altitude of 9,000 meters, has raised concerns not only for Chiao but for the wider public regarding the origin of these mysterious objects.
Chiao was en route from Colorado to Houston when the orbs unexpectedly passed by his aircraft. One orb flew directly above the other, and the entire encounter lasted only a few seconds. “It was pure luck that they didn’t hit me,” Chiao remarked, emphasizing the potential danger of the situation. “It could have had a bad outcome if they really had hit me. It happened so fast that I didn’t have time to be scared.”
Although the objects were extremely close, they were not detected on radar and did not appear on Chiao’s cockpit display, which typically shows all other planes with FAA transponders. “It wasn’t on the radar,” Chiao explained. “Air traffic control surely didn’t issue any warning, and it didn’t appear on the screen showing planes equipped with FAA transponders.”
Chiao’s testimony adds to the growing number of reports of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) in the United States, particularly in light of recent drone activity in New York and New Jersey. Although Chiao initially speculated that the orbs might be part of a high-tech military drone program, he acknowledged that the government’s lack of transparency leaves many questions unanswered.
“I don’t know what it was,” Chiao confessed, calling the sighting “mysterious” and “disturbing.”
Government transparency and drone mysteries
Chiao’s encounter comes amid a rise in drone and UAP sightings across the country, many of which have been recorded near sensitive military installations and urban areas. In recent weeks, reports of large, mysterious drones have emerged from New Jersey and surrounding states, fueling widespread speculation about their origin. Some believe they could be foreign spy drones, while others point to advanced military technology or even extraterrestrial activity.
Chiao believes the lack of government transparency on this issue is concerning. “They could tell us what they know,” he said. “And if they really don’t know, that’s even more disturbing.”
His skepticism mirrors the frustration expressed by Belleville’s mayor, Michael Melham, who recently criticized a federal briefing on the mysterious drones as “disappointing.” The briefing, attended by over 500 local leaders, reportedly failed to provide any concrete answers.
“Mayors are furious,” journalist Michael Shellenberger reported, citing one mayor’s account of drones the size of cars flying over his house.
A wider pattern of secrecy
Chiao’s experience and the recent drone sightings suggest a broader pattern of government secrecy surrounding UAP incidents. While the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) has acknowledged that metallic orbs are common in military UFO reports, very little concrete information has been shared with the public. Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, the first director of AARO, noted that these orbs are frequently seen worldwide, often performing “very interesting, obvious maneuvers.”
For Chiao, the lack of transparency is not only frustrating—it’s potentially dangerous. “It’s hard to believe that our government really doesn’t know what’s going on,” he said. “At first glance, it seems like some kind of military program, ours. And if it’s not that, then it becomes a bit more frightening.”
As the year draws to a close, the mysteries surrounding these metallic orbs and the recent drone activity remain unresolved. Chiao’s testimony serves as a stark reminder of the need for greater government transparency, especially when issues could impact public safety. Until then, questions will continue to mount, leaving both experts and the public wondering what—or who—really stands behind these enigmatic aerial phenomena.
