ufosighting.report / Reddit
Distant lights filmed from an airliner over Montana
An airline passenger recorded several lights near the horizon on a late flight. The witness later accepted Starlink flares as the most likely explanation.
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What the video shows
The 36-second window video shows several bright points appearing low over a dark horizon. Their apparent positions shift slowly while the aircraft moves, with reflections and a faint cloud layer visible in the scene.
Witness description
The passenger said three to five lights were visible while flying from St. Paul to Boise late on September 10. A commenter identified the flight as Delta 2488 and proposed Starlink flares; the witness said that explanation likely fit.
Source and provenance
The complete 36-second MOV from report 12969 was preserved as a local H.264/AAC copy. Source metadata records an iPhone 17 HEVC/HLG file captured at 05:09 UTC on September 11, consistent with the reported late-evening Mountain time window.
Evidence notes
The source and timing are comparatively well documented, but exact camera bearing and aircraft coordinates were not retained in the public record. The lights show no measurable maneuver inconsistent with distant satellites near the horizon.
Possible explanations
Sunlight glinting from Starlink satellites beyond the local night terminator is the leading explanation, a recurring effect seen by airline crews. Distant aircraft or lightning behind clouds are secondary possibilities.
Verification notes
Source video preserved; likely Starlink flares, acknowledged by the witness, with no anomalous performance shown.