Aerial Observation of Intense Source of Light — BEA Flight over Lithuania
This declassified CIA Foreign Intelligence Information Report (Domestic Collection Division), dated 18 November 1976, recounts an unusual aerial observation reported aboard a British European Airways (BEA) flight — cited as flight 831/231 — traveling from Moscow to London on 10 September 1976. Between 1800 and 1900 hours, while cruising at approximately 33,000 feet (9,900 meters) apparently inside the border of Lithuania, the crew observed a blinding, single-source, constant-intensity stationary light off the starboard flight path. The light was estimated at 10–15 miles (16–24 km) from the aircraft and roughly 5,000–6,000 feet below it, sitting somewhat above a lower cloud layer that it fully illuminated with a glowing cast. Described as resembling a yellowish sodium-vapor lamp and too intense to view directly, the light drew enough interest that the BEA pilot addressed passengers over the intercom, stating he was concerned about its presence and had asked Soviet authorities to identify its source. According to the report, Soviet authorities returned a negative identification and suggested he not ask questions. The light was observed for roughly 10–15 minutes until the aircraft passed and left it behind. The document explicitly notes 'THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION.'
Description
A CIA Domestic Collection Division / Foreign Intelligence Information Report describing the observation of an unusual, intense stationary light seen from a British European Airways (BEA) flight from Moscow to London on 10 September 1976, over the border region of Lithuania in the USSR. The report is marked as unevaluated information.
Claims
The information in the report is unevaluated.
95%A blinding, single-source, constant-intensity stationary light was observed off the starboard flight path of a BEA Moscow–London flight on 10 September 1976, near the Lithuania border.
60%A blinding, single-source, constant-intensity, stationary light was observed off the starboard flight path of a BEA Moscow–London flight over Lithuania on 10 September 1976.
60%The light was estimated to be 10–15 miles from the aircraft and 5,000–6,000 feet below it, above a lower cloud layer, resembling a yellowish sodium-vapor lamp.
55%The light was estimated at 10–15 miles distance and 5,000–6,000 feet below the aircraft, resembling a yellowish sodium vapor lamp and too intense to view directly.
55%The BEA pilot said he had asked Soviet authorities to identify the light's source, and they returned a negative identification and suggested he not ask questions.
50%The BEA pilot asked Soviet authorities to identify the light and received a negative response with a suggestion not to ask questions.
50%
Events
Sep 9, 1976
Aerial observation of intense light
Between 1800 and 1900 hours, a BEA flight from Moscow to London observed a blinding stationary light near the Lithuania border for approximately 10–15 minutes.
Nov 17, 1976
Report distribution
Date of distribution of the CIA information report.
Sep 9, 1976
Observation of intense light source during BEA flight
Crew and pilot aboard a BEA Moscow–London flight observed a blinding, stationary yellowish light near the Lithuanian border for 10–15 minutes; Soviet authorities declined to identify it.
Nov 17, 1976
Report distributed
CIA information report date of distribution.
Dates mentioned
Keywords
Entities
Extracted text (OCR)
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SUBJECT Acrial Goservation of Intense DATE DISTR. 18 Noy 1976
Source of Light
NO. PAGES 1
“REFERENCES
1. An unusual incident was-observed during
Eurepean Airways (BEA) flight (number 831) fror Mescow to London.
1800 and 1900 hours, the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of approxi-
- mately 33 thousand feet (9,900 meters), apparently inside the borcer of
a10 September. 1976 British
Between
Lithuania, when a blinding, single source, constant intensity, and
stationary light was observed off the starboard flight path of the air-
The light's distance wes estimated to be approximately 10 to 15
miies (16 to 24 kilometers) cif of the aircraft’ $ path and approximately
five to six theusand feet (1,500 ro 1, 806 meters) below the aircraft,
somewhat above a jJower cloud layer? The lipcht, which resembled @ sodiun
vapor lamp (yeliewish in color), and which was. too intense te view
directly for any period of time, completely lit tte top of the lower clou
layer, giving it @ glowing cast.
oO.
he aircraft's
intercom network, stated that he was somewhat oncerns its presence,
and said he hac asked the Soviet authorities for an identificacion of its
source. Thé Seviet authorities came back with @ negati entificatior
response, sugeesting that he should not ask questions, light was
ebserved for eprroximately 20 to 15 minutes, until the aircraft had flovr
past and left the light source behind.
- end
SUBJECT Acrial Gbservarion of Intense DATE DIftR. 18 Nay 1975 .
Source of Light
NO. PAGES i
. LCD Case f
DATE OF INFO. September 219? _ wae eee oe ee ee
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION _.
SOURCE - a
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pat A DB
1.
An unusual incid
European Aireays (BEA) flighe (number 231) “from Meese London. Between
1800 and 1900 heurs, the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of approxi-
mately 33 thousand feet (9,900 meters), -apparen atly-inside the borcer of
ia, when a blinding, single source, constant intensity, and ~~~ - ~
stationary light was observed off the starboard flight path of the air= = > 9 -ooe
}
ent was observed during a 10 Seprember 1976 British
og ;
erate. The light's distance was estimated to be approximately 10 ta 15
miies (16 to 24 kilometers): cif-of_the aircraft! s=path and approxsne telv ?
3
five to six theusand feet (1,500 to 1,806 meters) below the aircraft,
somewhat epove a jower cloud layers Tne light, which Teserh! ed g sodiun
vapor lamp (yeliowish in coler), and which was too intense te view
directly for any period of time, completely lit the top of the lower clouc
r
layer, giving it 2 glowing. caste oo8 soe ee
Tne light was of such interest that the BFA nilet cane onte the aircraft's
intercom network, stated that he was semewhat- concerned over its presence,
and said he hac asked the Soviet authorities for an {dencificacion of its: ~
soure Thé Soviet authorities came back with & n@sative identification
response, suggesting that he should not ask questions. The light was :
observ ved for approximately 16 to 15 mdinutes,-until the sireraft had flow '
past and left tne light source behing.
= end
.
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Connected through the network
SF-2026-000858
1957 CIA Memo for CIA Director on Unidentified Flying Object Reported in NY on 20 September 1957
SF-2026-000871