
This is an investigation into unexplained aerial phenomena (UAP) that occurred on February 23, 1986, when Prince Charles was allegedly aboard a plane that had a close encounter. The Sunday Mirror ran a story about this at the time. The palace never made any admission. I found seven or eight corroborating MOD UFO files.
The reason I am investigating this, is that I had a significant UFO sighting on the same day.
THE BLACK UFO REPORT

Royal jet, jumbo, and motorists caught in night of mystery lights
Sunday 23 February 1986 — In 1986 the skies over Britain and Ireland turned into a scene from Close Encounters.
At about 7.37pm, the RAF jet carrying Prince Charles home from California was suddenly flooded with a blinding red glow over the Irish Sea. The cockpit lit up like day. Other aircraft confirmed they saw it too.
Then, at 8.30pm sharp, witnesses from Scotland to Somerset reported brilliant green and orange fireballs tearing across the heavens. One motorist swore he saw a cube-shaped UFO, another observer, a retired police superintendent in South Wales, said it hovered for ten minutes.
By 9.50pm, an American 747 near Shannon told controllers their cockpit was bathed in a mysterious flash of light.
And earlier still, at 11am in Galway, a man said a huge, silent craft hovered over the bay in broad daylight before vanishing without a trace.
Experts muttered about a “super meteor” — yet no such fireball was logged by astronomers.
What is certain: a Prince, a jumbo, and hundreds of ordinary Britons all witnessed strange lights in the sky on the same day.
The Black UFO report
The title “Black UFO Report” is derived from the color of the MOD file addressing the Prince Charles sighting, partially redacted and sealed until 2071.

In the released MOD papers this document sticks out, because it’s a negative print, indicating that it had been microfilmed. I believe this document is linked to the Prince Charles VC10 encounter, as it references an airline pilot at Shannon who had a similar experience to the VC10 pilot, according to the Sunday Mirror.
In the report the sections A to K are missing.
The UFO reporting chain (according to Manual of Air Traffic Services MATS Part 1):

Reporting chain
The reporting chain graphic explains the black UFO report. The 747 Crew sighting is included via LATCC. But the VC10 crew report is redacted until 2071, presumably because one Very Important Passenger could be identified on that flight. That’s why only sections L-R are visible; A-K, which would have included the place of observation and the description, are missing.
Evidence Collection

In searching for evidence – beyond the Sunday Mirror tabloid story – that my own UFO sighting on 23 February 1986 was part of a UFO flap, I submitted several FOI requests regarding Irish and British UFO reports from that day. And, to my surprise, I got lucky! (Link to interactive map of all the sightings.)
The British National Archives responded with the Ministry of Defense UFO files DEFE/24/1924/1 and DEFE/31/174/1. Based on their response and other archival findings, I was able to reconstruct the entire day, including the notable Prince Charles flight. (A full listing with references is given towards the end of this report.)
✈️ Prince Charles’s Flight reconstruction per United Press International archive
Aircraft: RAF Vickers VC10 “Queen of the Skies”
Date: Sunday, 23 February 1986
Approx. Departure in California: 01:30 PST
Flight time: ~10:30h
Sunset in Ireland: about 18:02 GMT
Over the Irish Sea: ~19:37 GMT (UAP illuminates cockpit)
Arrival in UK: ~20:00 GMT (per UPI report)
Document Analysis
HOWEVER, the information released via the Freedom of Information request in the MOD documents is incomplete because:
“…the document contains the names and addresses of members of the public … Release could lead to press intrusion into their lives. This exemption will remain in place for 84 years (until) …2071.”
The released MOD papers provide only a partial view of the 23 February 1986 events. Several reports appear in summary form, but critical details are absent, particularly in the so-called “black UFO report,” which survives only as a negative microfilm copy. Strikingly, this document begins at section L, omitting sections A–K where the original sighting description, location, and movements would normally be recorded. This omission, combined with the MOD’s Freedom of Information response confirming that DEFE/31/174 remains closed until 2071 under Section 40 (personal data), strongly suggests that the withheld material includes the full testimony of the RAF VC-10 crew and possibly corroborating accounts from the American 747 near Shannon.
Press vs. Official Record
In contrast, the Sunday Mirror article of 2 March 1986 – almost certainly based on an insider leak – contained far richer detail, citing multiple aircraft and the MOD’s own inquiry. The imbalance between what the press reported and what the archives reveal underscores both the sensitivity of the case and the deliberate withholding of information tied to high-profile witnesses.
The following table compares what’s known from the Sunday Mirror article (via a press leak) vs. the official MOD documentation:
Source | What is Reported | What is Missing / Withheld |
---|---|---|
Sunday Mirror (2 Mar 1986) | • Prince Charles’s RAF VC-10 crew saw a red glowing object light up the cockpit.• Four other aircraft also reported the same UFO over the Irish Sea.• MOD launched immediate investigation; no missing aircraft found.• Experts ruled out meteors or space debris.• Official quote: “It’s a complete mystery.” | • No names of pilots/airlines.• No times or positions of the other four aircraft.• No ATC transcripts or technical details. |
MOD File (DEFE 31/174/1 extract) | • A Lyneham Ops sighting report filed.• Remarks: “An American 747 captain reported similar sighting near Shannon, Ireland. Object/apparition lit up his flight deck. LATCC have knowledge of this particular incident.” | • The 747’s original report (captain’s statement, ATC log) is not included.• No flight number, crew names, or airline identified.• Likely withheld under FOI Section 40(2) (personal data exemption). |
MOD FOI Response | • Confirms DEFE 31/174 is partly closed until 2071.• Cited Section 40(2) FOI exemption (Data Protection Act).• Withheld data includes names/addresses of witnesses (both public and MOD staff). | • Any documents containing personal identifiers (pilots, airlines, MOD staff) remain unreleased.• This almost certainly includes the Shannon 747 report and possibly additional aircraft reports (VC10). |
It appears the press had the full narrative.
Event Summary – 23 February 1986 UFO Events
On the 23 February 1986 nine unusual reports swept across Britain and Ireland – amounting to a previously unreported full UFO flap.
Interactive map: https://contactproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/1986_UFO_sightings_interactive_cluster_purple.html
Report Summary – 23 February 1986 UFO Events
1. Galway, Ireland (MUFON #82139)
Screenshot of MUFON #82139 database
- Date/Time: 23 Feb 1986, ~11:00 AM local
- Description: Large structured UFO came into view from behind houses during uphill walk near Salthill/Claddagh. Hovered silently for 10-20 seconds over Galway Bay, then disappeared within an instant.
- Observer: Erich Habich-Traut (submitted later to MUFON).
- Notes: Only daylight structured craft sighting of the day; distinct from evening fireball events.
2. VIP Flight, RAF VC-10 (Prince Charles)
MOD file DEFE24/1924/1 Sunday Mirror & MOD file DEFE31/174/1 (missing sections A-K)
- Date/Time: 23 Feb 1986, 19:37Z (reconstructed flight path, Irish Sea)
- Description: Bright red luminous object illuminated cockpit. Reported by Prince Charles’s pilot, confirmed by multiple other aircraft over the Irish Sea.
- Observer: RAF VC-10 crew on board VIP flight returning from Palm Springs, California.
- Notes: Marker placed at 19:37Z position along reconstructed PSP → RAF Brize Norton track. Royal VIP involvement makes this event uniquely significant.
3. Ayrshire/Maybole, Scotland (file DEFE 31/174/1)
- Date/Time: 23 Feb 1986, 20:30
- Description: Glow seen above cloud followed by bright flash and orange vertical trail downward.
- Observer: Motorist driving near Kilroy, halfway between Ayr and Maybole.
- Meteorological: Cloud layer at 2,600 ft (Prestwick).
- Duration: ~0.5 seconds.
4. Kilroy, Scotland (file DEFE 24/1924/1)
- Date/Time: 23 Feb 1986, 20:30
- Description: Glow above cloud, followed by a bright flash and orange vertical trail.
- Observer: Stationary outdoors at Kilroy, observed with naked eye.
- Duration: ~1 second.
- Direction: Southwest.
- Reported to: SCATCC (Scottish Air Traffic Control Centre).
5. Cheddar/Weus, Somerset (file DEFE 24/1924/1)
- Date/Time: 23 Feb 1986, 20:30
- Description: Cube/square-shaped object, bright green with red top.
- Observer: Civilian on A371 road between Weus and Cheddar.
- Duration: 4 seconds.
- Weather: Clear skies, open moors.
6. Swindon, England (file DEFE 31/174/1)
- Date/Time: 23 Feb 1986, 20:30
- Description: Motorist reported a “great green ball of fire” while driving.
- Observer: Civilian motorist, naked eye.
- Weather: Cloudy.
- Notes: Adds to the 20:30 multiple-location cluster across Scotland and England.
7. South Wales, near Pencoed (file DEFE 24/1924/1)
MOD file DEFE24/1924/1 (lower half)
- Date/Time: 23 Feb 1986, 20:30
- Description: Dome/pear-shaped luminous object, green and white exterior with orange middle.
- Observer: Motorist on M4 motorway westbound to Pencoed; retired police superintendent.
- Duration: 5–10 minutes.
- Notes: Significantly longer than other fireball reports; suggests structured phenomenon rather than a brief meteor.
8. Shrewsbury, England (file DEFE 24/1924/1)
- Date/Time: 23 Feb 1986, 20:45
- Description: Round glowing red ball, ~4 ft diameter, with fiery red tail.
- Observer: Witness in stationary car, Sheinton/Cressage area.
- Movement: Vertical descent, disappeared behind woods.
- Duration: ~2 seconds.
- Weather: Clear sky.
9. Shannon, Ireland (file DEFE 31/174/1)
- Date/Time: 23 Feb 1986, 21:50Z (per MOD file receipt)
- Description: American 747 captain reported cockpit suddenly illuminated by a brilliant apparition.
- Observer: Airline crew near Shannon.
Notes: MOD time may reflect report filing, not the actual sighting. High reliability due to experienced airline witnesses.

Epilogue & Conclusion
The evening reports between 20:30 and 21:50 on 23 February 1986 could, in theory, be explained by a superbolide meteor: a 1–3 m object fragmenting at ~50 km altitude, producing a fireball visible across ~800 km. Yet no such event appears in scientific or astronomical archives, and aside from mentions in the MOD UFO files, the Northern UFO News and the Sunday Mirror, it left no official trace – no meteor bulletin, no press coverage of a continent-brightening event.

What stands out most is the five concurrent reports at 20:30 – from Scotland, England, and Wales – describing very different objects: fleeting flashes and trails, a cube-shaped luminous form, a green fireball, and a multicolored dome that lingered for minutes. These accounts resist being collapsed into a single meteor explanation.
Crucially, the Galway daylight sighting (11:00) and the VIP VC10 encounter over the Irish Sea (19:37) do not fit a meteor narrative, and the 747 cockpit illumination near Shannon further complicates the picture. While some accounts resemble fireball activity, the overall pattern suggests something more complex: a linked sequence of distinct aerial anomalies involving civilian, military, and royal actors. This makes the events of 23 February 1986 one of the most unusual and significant aerial mysteries of the decade.