British Airways Jet Narrowly Misses Mystery Metallic Object by Just 50 Feet
An official safety report has revealed that a British Airways Boeing 777-300ER carrying 256 passengers narrowly avoided a mid-air collision with a fast-moving mysterious object. The incident occurred at 12:08 PM UTC on June 24, 2026, shortly after the aircraft took off from London Heathrow Airport. The flight was bound for New York’s JFK Airport and was climbing over Guildford, Surrey, when it narrowly missed the silver object.
Details of the Encounter
The captain described the object as a shiny, reflective, silver-colored metallic object, roughly the size of four toasters. The object was moving at high speed in the opposite direction. It passed just 50 feet above the aircraft’s right wing. Air traffic controllers confirmed that the object was not detected on radar during the encounter. The pilot did not have time to take evasive action. Fortunately, the crew maintained control. The plane safely completed its eight-hour crossing to New York.
The incident was reviewed on September 16, 2026, by the UK Airprox Board. This is the official body that investigates close-proximity aircraft encounters. In its formal review, the Board categorized the incident in its highest risk category. It concluded that “providence had played a major part in the incident and/or a definite risk of collision had existed”.
