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Pilot reports seeing a rocket in mid-air
Some weird things can happen in the skies. At least if you are the Continental Airlines pilot who reported seeing a rocket fly past his cockpit window while he was about eight miles away from Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, as reported by the Houston Chronicle. "We don't know for sure what the object was. But we think it might be somebody doing model rocketing," said Roland Herwig, an FAA spokesman. "The pilot saw the rocket and some people saw the rocket's trail (of smoke)."
The incident has turned into a full-blown federal investigation, with both the FAA and the FBI looking into the matter. Fortunately no one was harmed or scathed. Just a little weirded out that a rocket may have flown past the cockpit window.
What strange things have been found on planes?
Click the image to read the bizarre story...
Filed under: North America, United States, Airlines, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
drstrangegun May 28th 2008 9:49AM
I was into model rocketry for many years until lack of time and a launch area pushed me out of it.
There are two possibilities here:
1 - Pilot was flying under 2000 feet and was "buzzed" by a higher performance model of the little unregulated model rockets like the Estes kits. These rockets are usually well under a pound and generally plastic, mylar-coated cardboard, and balsa wood. Even if the engine ingested it it would cause less damage than a bird strike.
2 - Pilot got buzzed by a high-power rocket launched with no FAR variance. Someone's in deep doodoo if that's what happened, because generally you have to have a federal LEUP to handle the composite engines, be Tripoli certified, and let the FAA know where, when, and how high you're launching.
I have a feeling it's #1 there and a mountain is being made of a molehill.
Anna Brones May 28th 2008 10:57AM
Thanks for the helpful input!
Mike Glen Jun 1st 2008 9:14AM
I agree with#1
I used to fly Estes Model Rockets and they could easily reach over 1000 feet.
Someone should check the glide path of this airport, will probably find lots of stuff that shouldn't be there
Kids will be Kids
adele Jun 1st 2008 6:14AM
where else would you expect to find a rocket
Betsy Wetsy Jun 1st 2008 6:51AM
I noticed very unusual things being transported down the 287 highway to and from Dallas that were long and covered up or unusual things I never saw before, and being ex USAF/DW 22 years I know somethings about to happen not to mention I have intuitive abilities and have predicted each war by that. I told my daughter today because I saw very very unusual car's on a train. Huge cargo that I have never seen in 48 years so ya'll don't be surprised if IRAN gets blasted before the change of hands in the presidency.
I assure you somethings up and I doubt that was a play rocket people. Now what I saw today could be related because I have no clue what them two huge things were. They reminded me of a small object but were huge. BOTH being sent southe as well as train things. Now I normally wait for Jeeps etc but whatever was on the trains was hidden an a huge container and there were many of them. Twice the size as a normal train car and taller too... You decide..
jwynn Jun 1st 2008 7:33AM
There is no way the USAF would have allowed you to stay in for 22 years without demanding you learn how to use punctuation and proper grammar. I don't believe a word you write.
George Jun 1st 2008 7:45AM
Most likely aircraft wings built in Grand Prairie going to Boeing. I believe the are for 737s
Amy Jun 1st 2008 8:57AM
I too live with 287 in my backyard and see weird things being transported on highway 287....... Have you seen the things that look very long like fish fins???
MilPsycholgist Jun 1st 2008 10:45AM
A fine example of a Section-8 military retirement. Take your meds Betsy-wetsy....
Igor Jun 1st 2008 11:30AM
I tend to agree that if your grammar and spelling were a touch more accurate, you would have considerably more credibility. But..........
Quanmeg Jun 1st 2008 12:10PM
What an idiot...Take a look to the west of you. Giant windmill farm construction is taking place at an unbelievable rate. If you have ever seen the parts for one of these windmills on the ground you would know that the head is as large as a cabin cruiser and the fins are as long as 2 train cars. All of the parts are being received by rail (dificult to transport via road). Thre cheers to the great state of Texas for addressing the nations energy problems.
Grand Prairie ships a lot of wings and plane parts always under cover.
The thought of having someone as stupid as you in our millitary for 22 years makes me worry about our safety.
wow Jun 1st 2008 3:58PM
Go put on your tinfoil hat and sit in the closet till the people with the butterfly nets come for you. woo woo!
posuers unite Jun 1st 2008 4:09PM
Yep , the citizens have no idea about what is really happening . I would sure like for somebody that has all of this knowledge to finally say "Enough is enough " and come out on National television and just give it to us straight ...spill all the top secret info that we are entitled to . Just one honest person is all it is going to take , come on I DARE YOU !! Although the government would probably assasinate this unfortunate person , but I think one life is worth the world knowing the truth !
frank hamilton Jun 2nd 2008 5:10PM
If A merica knew the truth of the actions of the near futur as directed by our gov't,they would understand why we are having our attention directed toward the crap that is in the papers now.It's taking our attention off of the really important things.
Simzeee Jun 1st 2008 7:03AM
It was probably a Rod.
DinHouston Jun 1st 2008 7:20AM
I live in NW Harris County - just outside of Houston, not far from the flight path to the airport. A co-worker came to work on Tuesday asking us if we'd heard the loud noise her family had heard. She said it sounded as if something whooshed past her roof. We then heard on the radio about the Continental pilot's report. She reported to the authorities what she had heard. Whatever it was must have come from near her neighborhood.
robert t Jun 1st 2008 7:27AM
We saw the rocket incident on the East Texas news last week. Continental flight outbound passing thru 5000 ft. The pilot reported a very large and thick smoke trail according to the news report something I'm told is not like a typical model rocket and at that altitude.
About big things on trucks and trains, I see them regularly out in the West. Seems what I saw were tower sections for the huge electric windmills.
catrina Jun 1st 2008 7:36AM
my husband was flying a commercial jet when a bright silver weather balloon released by our government came roaring toward his airplane windshield. It was an encounter he will never forget. At that speed and at that altitude, something like that is terrifying! I know he reported it to the FAA. Good thing our pilots are well trained, have nerves of steel and can make safe split second decisions. US airlines should be regulated again. The only thing at a US airline that is NOT regulated is the airfare and airlines can't provide a safe flight in a new plane on a $99 ticket. Write to your congressman and ask them to regulate the airlines again!
John Howell Jun 1st 2008 9:50AM
Catrina claims the airlines can't provide safety and yet it's been nearly seven years since an American airliner crashed. The evidence says she's wrong. The evidence says the airlines are doing an incredible job of getting people from Point A to Point B, and they're doing it in a relatively unregulated environment.
BILL Jun 1st 2008 1:31PM
SO YOUR GREAT AND TALENTED HUSBAND FLIES UNSAFE AIRCRAFT?????