Orb UAP photographed by pilot on tarmac and flying during the day in Manchester

[Duke]

if you give them date and time, the tower may be able to check if the pilot's testimony about reporting the object is correct. I doubt they did that based on a "sometime in June" determination.

I had a similar thought. Questions submitted as FOIA requests (vice just asking for an answer) would open up a fair number of airfield organizational records/logs/recordings from airfield/ground ops, security, safety, maintenance etc. You'd think at least one of those would offer some proof IF the ball was seen on the ground and acted on. Of course this all presupposes the date/time of the alleged incident is reliably known.

Not meant as a criticism of @Dave Beaty, btw. I applaud his initiative.

 

[FatPhil]

1h:20m for super cool A380 take off...

I was working in Toulouse in may 2005, and A380 flights were cool back then, but really, in 2024?

 

[jarlrmai]

I was working in Toulouse in may 2005, and A380 flights were cool back then, but really, in 2024?

Sorry for boring you.

 

[flarkey]

We need a facepam emoji .



Source: https://x.com/RonyVernet/status/1862703862198485230

 

[JMartJr]

I was working in Toulouse in may 2005, and A380 flights were cool back then, but really, in 2024?

I dunno, they still engage my personal sense of "that's too big to fly" awe when I see them.

 

[purpleivan]

Evidence of helium balloons in the Concorde Hangar at Manchester airport... (although this was 6 months previous)

https://www.francishouse.org.uk/showstopping-night-greatest-francis-house-ball/

View attachment 73724

But that's in an enclosed, controllable space and they appear to be tied to the table, by a trail of small lights. I'd imagine that this situation would be considered a low risk, compared with ballons outdoors, with the weather etc. then being factors making potentially problematic, outdoor accidental releases more likely.

 

[jdog]

We need a facepam emoji .



Source: https://x.com/RonyVernet/status/1862703862198485230

The kind of speculation that calls for some self... reflection.

 

[jarlrmai]

On Reddit UFOs there was a thread where someone drew a sci-fi spaceship and made 3d models etc based on this UFO and then made up some fun sci-fi theories about how it worked etc, all based on the few pixels of this overly cropped phone photo.

Later on someone linked this thread and there was a reply admonishing us for 'manufacturing data out of whole cloth'

 

[Dave Beaty]

There are strict rules about this during flight operations of which taxing a fully fueled jet fill of passengers counts.

My Delta Pilot friend said that Taxing and Departure is one of those very busy moments on the flight deck and if he saw his FO whipping out his phone and taking snapshots then he'd chew his ass. During the cruise not the same issue on auto pilot. Plus most carriers shooting from the cock pit is a firable offense.

 

[JMartJr]

Plus most carriers shooting from the cock pit is a firable offense.

Would 6here be that sort of restrictions a deadheading pilot or somebody otherwise not "on duty?" If those folks still ride in the cockpit, heck if I know...

 

[John J.]

We need a facepalm emoji .

Ah, Rony Vernet and his UFO-hunting skills skills have been mentioned elsewhere on this forum, including at
Rony Vernet ( via Ross Coulthart ) - Brazil UFO Claims.

 

[MKBRD]

Hi all,

Signed up specifically to discuss this topic so apologies if I end up posting some stuff here that has already been ruled out or gone over thoroughly.

My professional background is visual effects and post production for film and TV as a whole, and I'm not completely convinced that this thing is actually real, so here's a quick run down of what I've been tinkering with:

There's something to my eye that just doesn't look right about the "orb" in the image, so I took the original cropped image into photoshop, desaturated it, and started measuring RGB values in the image. As a VFX artist, this is the starting point for me when I need to add something to a shot - I need to know what the lightest and darkest values in the image are, so that I can get the value of the shadows and highlights right.

To do this for shadows, I look at the average RGB value of the darkest parts of the image I'm compositing into - which, in turn, gives me a rough RGB value-based idea of the dynamic range of the camera that took the image. From there I can clip the darkness value on whatever I'm compositing into the scene, and it matches the rest of the shadows.

When I measured the RGB values in the shadows on this image, I found that the darkest parts of the image - the hole for the APU exhaust, under the wings, inside the engine cowling, and the shadow of the wheels - The average value was around 90-96. I managed to find a single pixel with a value of 76, but by and large the average darkness RGB value of the shadows on parts of the aircraft receiving no light was around 96.

The shadow on the underside of the orb has an average darkness value of around 60 - which is quite significantly lower than the rest of the image. I could not find - anywhere in the rest of the image linked above - darkness values as low as this.

This leads me to believe that it might have been composited into the image, as it would seem that the darkest value of the orb seems to be outside the dynamic range of the rest of the image. I am aware that as objects move further into the distance they reduce in contrast - but even the black posts just behind the orb do not have darkness values as low as the orb - they also average around 90.

The reflection on the Orb seems strange to me as well - almost as though its using an HDRI image of a similar - but not the same - location to the one it's in.

Happy to go into more detail and provide images to illustrate if people think there's anything to this, but I'll end it there for now as I'm in danger of making this an essay.

 

[MKBRD]

Use of personal electronic devices while operating a commercial aircraft is prohibited by the company and the Feds.

The pilot could lose their job if outed.

Lots of pictures and videos from pilots out there but if it's getting media attention that would be scary for the photographer.

so the airport wasn't shut down behind all of this??

Just to quickly follow on from my last (and first!) post: if it's not real, I imagine his airline - and the law - wouldn't take too kindly to someone posting videos of fake airport security risks to social media...

On the Reddit UFO forum, they take it as clear, clear evidence that this is the government trying to "silence" the pilot....

 

[wavy]

On Reddit UFOs there was a thread where someone drew a sci-fi spaceship and made 3d models etc based on this UFO and then made up some fun sci-fi theories about how it worked etc, all based on the few pixels of this overly cropped phone photo.

Later on someone linked this thread and there was a reply admonishing us for 'manufacturing data out of whole cloth'

As I'm pretty fresh in such communities, to me it seems like there's a majority of users in both camps who base their rationality on their beliefs, rather than doing the opposite. Maybe they began with the correct prioritisation, but our minds have trouble changing fundamental beliefs once they mature based on early data, despite of what we might claim.

Personally I'm somewhat disappointed with this incident losing activity. Putting second hand embarrassment aside, that twitter guy also posted apparent analyses of the object's images for unnatural distributions of noise variables etc, and he didn't find them to have been doctored. I believe the precise aerial behaviour of that object and any reproducible narrative of how it could have gone so high up from the ground (assuming of course that the photographs are real), are things that deserved more love.

 

[Alytha]

Does anybody know if the contents of a FOD bin on a ramp have to be logged at the end of the day, or are they just thrown out?

 

[john.phil]

Does anybody know if the contents of a FOD bin on a ramp have to be logged at the end of the day, or are they just thrown out?

Manchester airport administration instruction states that FOD bins are emptied daily. Based on the document, I don't believe they log anything, but probably they inspect the contents to see if any of the items could have come from an aircraft, and for the "lessons learned" sessions:

a) Provision of FOD Bins – A minimum of one FOD bin will be located at a strategic position at the head of each stand. Their purpose is to enable airside workers to dispose of small items, which might become a hazard to aircraft, i.e. padlocks from bags.

They are not to be used to deposit other rubbish e.g. waste from aircraft. Any individual who is seen depositing inappropriate material into a FOD Bin may be subject to action in accordance with the Airfield Infringement Scheme (EGCC-I-AOPS-013). FOD Bins will be emptied once per day.

source: https://assets.live.dxp.maginfrastructure.com/f/73114/x/6c0d1781de/asi-33-fod-airfield-sweeping.pdf

 

[Alytha]

Thank you for looking that up.
That would have ben too easy otherwise, if we could have obtained a copy of the log of that day and see if a balloon or something similar is listed.
Supposing the object is real.

 

[Psytechnic]

Not sure if this helps with any analysis, but I noticed the images going around are compressed versions, I've found the 'original' google drive link that has the full resolution photos. Although, still not great and it seems the metadata has been stripped due to being allegedly AirDropped.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-9K4tqUdhMOlumd9BEDwOZzQqTRdpPzC

Also there's 4 videos from that day that I can see on YouTube. Although they all end before 6pm:


Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kMscrPubn4


Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6i49gkjx_w


Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElTqyiLIH-w


Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH-DU1KskPE
(the ThinkPlanes live stream ended early due to an issue, but they recorded the A380 taking off which I believe was the UAE2504 EK2504 18.20 to Dubai, so roughly 45/50 minutes before the incident)

 

[jarlrmai]

The evidence suggests the balloon or object was seen on the ground, then later went back into the sky so if a balloon it (potentially agitated by a jet engine) may not have been caught and disposed and maybe just made its way out of the airport on the wind currents.

 

[jarlrmai]

Not sure if this helps with any analysis, but I noticed the images going around are compressed versions, I've found the 'original' google drive link that has the full resolution photos. Although, still not great and it seems the metadata has been stripped due to being allegedly AirDropped.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-9K4tqUdhMOlumd9BEDwOZzQqTRdpPzC

Also there's 4 videos from that day that I can see on YouTube. Although they all end before 6pm:


Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kMscrPubn4


Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6i49gkjx_w


Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElTqyiLIH-w


Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH-DU1KskPE
(the ThinkPlanes live stream ended early due to an issue, but they recorded the A380 taking off which I believe was the UAE2504 EK2504 18.20 to Dubai, so roughly 45/50 minutes before the incident)

Nice find, unfortunately no metadata to do time comparisons on

There's metadata on the video indicating it was edited/created on the 27/11/2024 15:33:41

Which is interesting as the social media post was on the 25/11/24

 

[jarlrmai]

I think there's enough information in the upgraded video to I think see the blue colour from the photo.

 

[jarlrmai]

Photos and videos attached incase Google Drive becomes unavailable

 

[Mick West]

found the date and time using Flight Radar looking for the correct formation of planes. It's from the 9th June between 19:05-19:08

Time note here, 19:05 UTC would 8:08PM BST, as it's in the summer.

 

[Leekster]

Does anybody know if the contents of a FOD bin on a ramp have to be logged at the end of the day, or are they just thrown out?

It's trash.

 

[Duke]

Does anybody know if the contents of a FOD bin on a ramp have to be logged at the end of the day, or are they just thrown out?

I can't speak to how the UK CAA and/or airport authorities deal with FOD recovery, but in the USAF where runway debris came from is as important as removing it from the runway. Let them find anything that looks mechanical, or even metal, and things get interesting.

That FOD item will be documented, analyzed, and hopefully identified as to what type aircraft/vehicle it could have come from. Depending on what was found, it could result in the inspection of all the applicable aircraft types that could have lost the part at that base over some finite period. Not only are they trying to find which specific a/c lost the item, but looking to see if there are any indications other a/c of that type show signs of excessive wear/fatigue of the part in question. Could even result in a fleet-wide inspection.

 

[justthefacts]

Twitter account @captainbiggalow posted pictures and one video of an object looking like an orb at Manchester airport. The post is from the 25th of November but the footage was recorded months ago.

View attachment 73641

Additional information provided on twitter:


There is a reddit thread about this case here

I obtained the (supposedly) original photos and videos with metadata by email from reddit user Own-Resolution-8476

I don't have the technical knowledge to evaluate CGI use or do anything with the metadata. Anyone has any idea what we are looking at here?

Obviously the use of AI or upscaling will introduce artificial artifacts. However, I tried Topaz Gigapixel and upscaled the photo 4 times. What is interesting is that Gigapixel interprets the object as a cylindrical lid, perhaps a round blue lid from a cylindrical recycling bin, rolling along the tarmac. Might be an alternative to the ball/balloon interpretation.

 

[MKBRD]

Might sound daft, but 9th June was Parklife festival in Manchester.

I only mention that as there would be a higher-than-average number of beach balls in the city - not famously known for it's golden, sandy beaches - that particular day.

Can't offer a compelling reason as to how would end up on the tarmac at the airport, but thought it was a point worth mentioning.

 

[Mick West]

Might sound daft, but 9th June was Parklife festival in Manchester.

Heaton Park is on the other side of the city, about 12 miles to the north. Rather unlikely to have blown over the city.

 

[MKBRD]

Heaton Park is on the other side of the city, about 12 miles to the north. Rather unlikely to have blown over the city.

I was thinking more along the lines that someone might have flown into Manchester for it, but I admit it's still a reach.

 

[John J.]

Obviously the use of AI or upscaling will introduce artificial artifacts. However, I tried Topaz Gigapixel and upscaled the photo 4 times. What is interesting is that Gigapixel interprets the object as a cylindrical lid

I think you're right to raise the issue of artefacts.
AI might take the data it's given, compare it to existing learnt images/ associations and come up with an interpretation of a feature in an image that diverges from the appearance of the actual object captured in that image.

A sort of artificial pareidolia.
Applied to pictures of ambiguous things in the sky, over several iterations I guess AI might return a structured UFO...

 

[Minus0]

How much thrust do taxiing aircraft produce? I'm assuming that to move an aircraft on the ground, engines are likely blowing out air at over 100 knots. Given the visible aircraft, it seems plausible that a light object like an inflated balloon or beach ball could become airborne in these conditions. However, a recycling bin lid would likely be too heavy to sustain significant lift or maintain a consistent orientation while bouncing, especially without additional forces. Mapping this scenario would require too much effort but it seems the observed object's behaviour aligns more with something lightweight and possibly already buoyant

Also, I don't know if it's possible for the wing tip vortexes produced during takeoff/landing to ever self sustain and migrate across the ground, picking things up closer to the terminal?

 

[Duke]

Obviously the use of AI or upscaling will introduce artificial artifacts. However, I tried Topaz Gigapixel and upscaled the photo 4 times. What is interesting is that Gigapixel interprets the object as a cylindrical lid, perhaps a round blue lid from a cylindrical recycling bin, rolling along the tarmac. Might be an alternative to the ball/balloon interpretation.View attachment 73980

Not sure I buy the bin lid, but I am interested in Gigapixel's color interpretation of the enlargement image. The marbled blue/white coloration of the ball/balloon/lid is distinctive, if not unique.

Could you do the the same for a screenshot from the mp.4 video of the airborne object (allegedly taken the same time/location as the stills) @Candycane7 included in the first post of this thread? The goal is to see if we can determine if the airborne object and the marbled blue/white object on the tarmac are one and the same. Can you enlarge the airborne object enough without excessive distortion/artificial artifacts that would allow a near apples-to-apples comparison of the object coloration of the two different images?

 

[Mendel]

Also, I don't know if it's possible for the wing tip vortexes produced during takeoff/landing to ever self sustain and migrate across the ground, picking things up closer to the terminal?

They're in the air, so they're moving with the wind.

Here's the Manchester airport weather report for June 9th, 19:20 UTC:

Article:

METAR COR EGCC 091920Z AUTO 22004KT 7000 -RA SCT009/// BKN018/// BKN024/// //////CB 11/10 Q1009 TEMPO RA BKN012=

Source: https://www.ogimet.com/display_metars2.php?lang=en&lugar=egcc&tipo=ALL&ord=REV&nil=SI&fmt=html&ano=2024&mes=06&day=09&hora=18&anof=2024&mesf=06&dayf=09&horaf=23&minf=59&send=send

At the time we think it was (19:08 UTC, unconfirmed), the wind was 4 knots from a southwesterly direction.

If I interpret the maps earlier in the thread correctly, the runway is south of the taxiways and the airport, so it's possible a vortex could move there (at a slow jogging pace).

Beach ball blowing across town from the North is impossible, though (if time/date is correct).

Edit: Looking at the aerodrome chart in post #32, the wind was coming from 220⁰, and the runway is aligned 230⁰, so it wouldn't blow much off the runway at all.

 

[jarlrmai]

How much thrust do taxiing aircraft produce? I'm assuming that to move an aircraft on the ground, engines are likely blowing out air at over 100 knots. Given the visible aircraft, it seems plausible that a light object like an inflated balloon or beach ball could become airborne in these conditions. However, a recycling bin lid would likely be too heavy to sustain significant lift or maintain a consistent orientation while bouncing, especially without additional forces. Mapping this scenario would require too much effort but it seems the observed object's behaviour aligns more with something lightweight and possibly already buoyant

Also, I don't know if it's possible for the wing tip vortexes produced during takeoff/landing to ever self sustain and migrate across the ground, picking things up closer to the terminal?
View attachment 74005

Source: https://youtu.be/ZJ9uWsvR1l0?si=SamKU7L4tufdKRfZ



Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqVjD3nBSQg

 

[Ben Harris]

 

[justthefacts]

Not sure I buy the bin lid, but I am interested in Gigapixel's color interpretation of the enlargement image. The marbled blue/white coloration of the ball/balloon/lid is distinctive, if not unique.

Could you do the the same for a screenshot from the mp.4 video of the airborne object (allegedly taken the same time/location as the stills) @Candycane7 included in the first post of this thread? The goal is to see if we can determine if the airborne object and the marbled blue/white object on the tarmac are one and the same. Can you enlarge the airborne object enough without excessive distortion/artificial artifacts that would allow a near apples-to-apples comparison of the object coloration of the two different images?

I grabbed the best frame from that video that I could and ran it through a 6X upscale in Gigapixel using its Recover and Redefine modes. The results are still extremely poor because there just isn't much source information to work with. However, I have attached the results. In the 2 closeups, the one which shows some colour and detail uses the Redefine mode which uses more guesswork to fill in the details.

 

[MKBRD]

View attachment 74010

Does anyone know where he was on the 9th of June?

 

[Mendel]

Does anyone know where he was on the 9th of June?

We have footage of his spaceship exploding, thanks to John Carpenter.

 

[MyMatesBrainwashed]

Firstly, apologies for any linking I get wrong here....

Manchester airport has responded...

However, Manchester Airport has spoken out about the UFO theories and debunked the claims.

The airport told The Independent that they believed the images to be fake, and even though the object could be a balloon or something similar, they saw nothing that proved the images were genuine unaltered footage.


A spokesperson further added to the Express: "We have systems that pick up anything that could be a threat to aviation.

"Anything that gives off a signal we would know about."

He added that if there was anything on the airfield at the airport, as is depicted in the imagery, it would be treated as a major incident, and no such disruption event has occurred.

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/manchester-airport-ufo-b2659304.html

Interesting they think they're fake.

 

[jarlrmai]

It's just the same thing Charlie Wiser got from then earlier in this thread.