Date of Occurrence
May 1, 2024
Commercial Air
Report ID: COM-2024-128
Departing Johannesburg, South Africa in Boeing 737-800, abeam Vaal Dam climbing through FL290.
5 seconds
1 object
While climbing through FL290 departing Johannesburg, South Africa, a commercial airline captain and first officer observed a delta-shaped craft moving directly toward their Boeing 737-800 in clear conditions. The object, described as a perfectly equilateral triangle approximately half the size of their aircraft, passed overhead within an estimated 200 feet at high velocity on an opposite heading. The craft displayed intense white/gold luminosity underneath that faded to metallic coloring, with what appeared to be a field around it giving the impression of atmospheric reentry effects. No traffic alerts were displayed on cockpit systems, no TCAS warnings activated, and ATC reported no radar contact.