Michigan pilot reports 'red light' formation above Route 131

A Michigan aircraft mechanic, pilot and military veteran, reports three red lights in formation as he was traveling along US Route 131 south of the Sand Lake exit on September 5, 2010, according to testimony from the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) witness reporting database.

"The near object was approximately 80 degrees above the horizon and was by far the dimmest and was red in color," the witness stated. "The center object looked to be two separate light sources close together and was approximately 45 degrees above the horizon orange shifting to red in color. The third object was just off the horizon and was as bright as the center object also red in color."

The witness could not determine speed or direction of the objects, "but, as we were moving north at 70-75 mph, the objects seemed to be stationary because they drifted behind us out of our line of sight."

The witness, traveling with his wife, turned around in an attempt to locate the objects. The wife then noticed a "flash like lightning in the distance southwest of our location." They eventually turned around again, resumed their trip, and did not encounter the objects again.

U.S. Highway 131 is a north–south highway. Sand Lake is a village in Kent County, southwestern, Michigan, population 492.

The UFO Examiner recently reported on an August 18, 2010, Michigan UFO encounter in, Father-son experience missing time in remote Michigan area. On August 30, 2010, we reported, Michigan 6-year-old insists 'aliens' are outside. MUFON received 12 UFO reports from Michigan during August 2010. There were 42 reports in July 2010.

The following is the unedited and as yet uninvestigated report filed with MUFON. Please keep in mind that most UFO reports can be explained as something natural or man made. If Michigan MUFON State Director William J. Konkolesky  investigates and reports back on this case, I will release an update. Please report UFO activity to MUFON.com.

MI, September 5, 2010 - Three Orange/Red Lights in Trailing Formation. MUFON Case # 25312.

While driving home from Grand Rapids on US 131 just south of the Sand Lake exit, my wife and I noticed three red lights in a straight line northwest of our location.

The near object was aprox. 80 degrees above the horizon and was by far the dimmest and was red in color. The center object looked to be two seperate light sources close together and was aprox. 45 degrees above the horizon orange shifting to red in color. The third object was just off the horizon and was as bright as the center object also red in color.

I could not tell speed or direction of object travel but, as we were moving North at 70-75 MPH the objects seemed to be stationary because they drifted behind us out of our line of sight.

My wife and I then made a u-turn at the Pierson exit and drove south, but were unable to locate the objects.

At this time my wife noticed a flash like lightining in the distance southwest of our location. After returning to the Sand Lake exit we again made a u-turn and resumed our trip home going north. Nothing further was seen.

The sky was obscured by clouds and no stars were visible at this time. There are several cell and radio towers near this location, but the objects we viewed were not toweres.

I am a military veteran as well as a pilot and am currently employed as an aircraft mechanic so I consider myself well trained in the observation of flying aircraft and can say these objects did not apear to be flares or known aircraft lighting.