A passenger on a flight from Chicago (ORD) to Newark (EWR) captured footage (see below) of objects appearing far above the cloud line—at altitudes commercial planes typically cruise.
While authorities have attributed these sightings to “drones,” public skepticism is mounting, as commercially available drones are not capable of reaching such extraordinary heights.
Stay Informed on the Unexplained
Every Friday we send out the top 5 most intriguing UFO & paranormal stories—direct to your inbox.
Subscribe to the NewsletterThe eyewitness, posting under the username “EasilyAmusedEE,” documented these mysterious objects on December 16, 2024, aboard United Airlines flight UA2359. Armed with an iPhone 16 Pro Max, they began recording roughly 20 minutes into the flight and continued to spot the objects intermittently throughout their journey.
What stood out was not only the unusual appearance of the objects but also their movement, visibility, and the flashing blue lights—features the eyewitness noted were not discernible with the naked eye.
Commercial planes typically fly between 30,000 and 35,000 feet, far above the clouds, which themselves top out around 12,000 feet. Drones available on the consumer market are constrained by both technical limitations and legal altitude caps.
For example, most drones struggle to exceed 400 feet, as per FAA regulations, and even high-end models face challenges around 12,000 feet due to thin air and limited battery life.
Yet, the video evidence seemingly captures objects well above the clouds, moving in ways inconsistent with known aircraft or conventional drones. If confirmed, this would place these “drones” at altitudes exceeding 40,000 to 50,000 feet, prompting obvious questions: How did they get there, and who controls them?
Many observers are unconvinced by the government’s “drone” explanation, with one commenter sarcastically noting: “I love flying drones at 50,000 feet, above commercial aviation. You wouldn’t believe the science behind the propellers on these things.”
Unlike stars or distant planes, the objects in the video appear to move and shift position relative to the flight path—sometimes perpendicular to the horizon.
While the government’s official narrative maintains that these are “drones,” the absence of more detailed explanations has fueled doubt. Given the altitude, duration, and visibility of the objects, questions linger: Are these truly drones, and if so, who is operating technology capable of such feats?
The narrative of “just drones” is a difficult pill to swallow for many who’ve viewed the evidence.
