After the BNOK air ambulance plane spotting a “star” that “isn´t a star” around Andørja in the direction of Andøya at 17. jan at 16.00, Evenes Air Station was contacted. No visuals on radar, and EM01 QRA F-35s was scrambled to identify the object with no apparent success.
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[Aprox area of sightings](https://preview.redd.it/5yetbskc1mdc1.jpg?width=1082&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=614db99af724c24e468fbb2bb73c5624233d83a6)
This was the conversation between the tower (ATC) and the pilot (BNOK):
ATC: “……about a slightly strange thing?”
BNOK; “Yes. ”
ATC: “Some luminous objects have been observed in the sky which have moved slightly back and forth at full speed. Got a call from a neighboring unit, without hanging them out, so to speak. You don’t see anything in the sky that looks like a star but isn’t a star?”
BNOK: ……… (bad sound quality)
ATC: “Yes, towards actually towards like that between Evenes and Andøya in a way.”
BNOK: ……… (bad sound quality)
A few seconds later:
BNOK; ……… (bad sound quality)
ATC: “Yes, not true. No, but okay. Thanks for that.”
A few seconds later:
ATC: “There we have it. I can actually see straight towards Andøya now. Luminous object that moves quite fast.”
BNOK: “We’ll take a 360 if that’s okay with you?”
ATC: “Do it.”BNOK: “Yes, then we’ll take a 360 and we’ll be back inbound Evenes.”
ATC: “Actually straight in the direction of Andøya as I sit here. Just as it comes and goes. It could probably be at around 20,000 feet, yes. Should sound about right.”
BNOK; “Yes. I’ll see.”
9 seconds later
BNOK: “Do you get him on the radar?”
ATC: “No. Nothing on the radar.”
BNOK: “We see nothing.”
ATC: “No. As said. I saw him here, and then he was in that direction. So. But you just have to keep going, and you’ll have thanks for the help. He may appear again when you approach. I will now look for that one myself. But you were ready for the visual, right?”
The air traffic controller gives the air ambulance weather data for Evenes. Soon after, the air ambulance reports to the tower that they see a plane passing overhead. The tower replies that it is Norwegian on a trip to Tromsø.
ATC: “Stay on top of things. We shall see.”ATC: “Thank you for your help. No. There were a couple of observations here now, so it’s been quiet. We will see if the Norwegian Defense Forces can perhaps find out some things. ”
Reidar Flasnes, spokesperson for the Norwegian Armed Forces’ Operational Headquarters, tells NRK that they have had two aircraft in the air this afternoon – that is, Quick Reaction Alert (QRA).
– “Currently, we are not commenting further on this sortie”, he says.
The Armed Forces continuously monitor Norwegian airspace.
If an unknown aircraft approaches our airspace, the Armed Forces dispatch two F-35s from Evenes. These aircraft locate the unknown planes, identify and document them. They will also prevent unauthorized entry into Norwegian airspace.
This is called QRA, or Quick Reaction Alert.
When the alarm sounds, the aircraft are in the air within 15 minutes.
Norwegian Rikskringkasting (NRK, similar to BBC):
[https://www.nrk.no/nordland/ambulansefly-tok-piruett-\_-forsvaret-bekrefter-at-de-hadde-fly-pa-vingene-1.16722961](https://www.nrk.no/nordland/ambulansefly-tok-piruett-_-forsvaret-bekrefter-at-de-hadde-fly-pa-vingene-1.16722961)
Link to convo between ATC and the plane (unfortunately in Norwegian):
[https://drive.proton.me/urls/SA62MT3Z30#kgwOVaTTijVV](https://drive.proton.me/urls/SA62MT3Z30#kgwOVaTTijVV)
Local newspapers covering the happening (probably paywalled):
[https://www.nordlys.no/kampflyene-pa-evenes-gikk-pa-vingene-etter-observasjon-av-lysende-objekt-hor-samtalen-mellom-tarnet-og-piloten/s/5-9-701067](https://www.nordlys.no/kampflyene-pa-evenes-gikk-pa-vingene-etter-observasjon-av-lysende-objekt-hor-samtalen-mellom-tarnet-og-piloten/s/5-9-701067)
[https://www.fremover.no/ambulansefly-tok-piruett-f-35-fra-evenes-rykket-ut/s/5-17-1197706](https://www.fremover.no/ambulansefly-tok-piruett-f-35-fra-evenes-rykket-ut/s/5-17-1197706)
[https://www.ht.no/nyheter/i/zEnOgO/ambulanseflyet-tok-foerst-en-ekstra-runde-saa-tok-to-jagerfly-av-fra-evenes](https://www.ht.no/nyheter/i/zEnOgO/ambulanseflyet-tok-foerst-en-ekstra-runde-saa-tok-to-jagerfly-av-fra-evenes)
Really strange stuff. Any takes on this?
Thanks to Selshevneren on Twitter/X.
[https://twitter.com/selshevneren/status/1748630920284819636](https://twitter.com/selshevneren/status/1748630920284819636)
Edit: Organizing the post to make it easier to read.
by DullEntertainment5