‘Good luck with aliens!’ Mysterious ‘silver canister’ spotted near plane over Rhode Island in viral ATC audio

A pilot flying a Piper PA-32RT-300T Turbo Lance II over Rhode Island skies reported spotting a mysterious "small silver canister" hovering just feet from his wingtip at 3,500 feet altitude, in a resurfaced air traffic control (ATC) audio clip that has sparked widespread discussion. The object appeared stationary and unattached, prompting the pilot to describe it as "astonishing" while ruling out common explanations like drones or balloons during real-time communication.

ATC confirmed no known objects in the area, responding with "Creepy!" before one controller quipped, "Good luck with the aliens," highlighting the informal tone amid the unexplained sighting.

Incident details

The exchange, first posted on YouTube by the VASAviation channel around October 27, 2025, captures the pilot noting the canister floated by right off the wing, standing still in midair without visible support. He emphasized its proximity, "right off our wingtip", and small size, likening it to a canister while seeking identification from ground control. The FAA has not publicly commented on this specific report, consistent with their policy on unverified UFO sightings that pose no safety risk.


This incident aligns with a pattern of pilot-reported unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), where objects defy conventional aircraft behavior, often documented via live ATC frequencies shared on platforms like YouTube and Reddit.

Similar cases, such as multi-target lights over Eugene, Oregon, in late 2024, involved FAA acknowledgments of reports but no further identification, underscoring challenges in real-time verification.

The Rhode Island event, believed to occur near the video's upload date, has gone viral on social media, fueling debates on authenticity despite pilots' typically precise terminology.

FAQs

Was the object a confirmed threat or identified later?
No safety risk reported; ATC had no data on it, and no official FAA follow-up identifies it as drone, balloon, or otherwise; remaining unexplained.

Why the casual 'aliens' remark from ATC?
Controllers might have used lighthearted banter in non-critical situations; the "creepy" and "good luck" responses reflect surprise without protocol violations.