Tic-tac shaped object over Saltburn

Sighting details

Date: 25th August 2025

Time: 13:00

Location: Saltburn beach

Sighting Account

On the afternoon of 25th August 2025 at approximately 1:00pm, the witness was sunbathing with family on Saltburn beach when they noticed a bright, white, tic-tac shaped object moving steadily from south to north. The object travelled in a perfectly straight line and appeared at a lower altitude than passing commercial aircraft, with the witness estimating it to be around 2,000–3,000 feet.

The object was described as small, fast, completely silent, and lacking any visible wings or contrail. It reflected brightly in the sunlight and was judged to be much brighter than the moon. The witness reported that the object covered an estimated distance of 8 miles, from Saltburn to beyond Redcar, in around 15 seconds, before becoming too small to see and disappearing into the distance.

The witness initially considered the possibility of a private jet but discounted this due to the lack of noise or sonic boom. Despite attempting to draw attention to the object, other family members did not manage to observe it due to its speed. No photographs or video footage were captured.

Atmospheric conditions were reported as clear, dry, and warm, with no cloud cover and only a light breeze. The sighting lasted for approximately 15 seconds in total.

Local area

Teesside International Airport is located approximately 19 miles west of Saltburn and this is the closest commercial airport. Runway 05/23 alignment (NE–SW) means arrivals and departures often route along or just offshore of the Teesside/Redcar coast depending on winds and Air Traffic Control.

There are several known airfields, gliding fields, helipads and grass strips and other flying sites with close proximity of the location. There are more than eleven listed within a 25-mile radius of Saltburn Beach,

Aerial

One useful tool for verifying aerial activity is FlightRadar24 which allows the public to monitor live air traffic around the world. By entering the location, date, and time of a sighting any commercial, private, or military aircraft operating in the area can be observed. The site’s historic playback function is particularly helpful as it enables users to review past flight paths including altitude, speed, aircraft type, registration number, and route details. This information can often explain sightings of lights or moving objects in the sky by identifying them as conventional aircraft or highlight instances where no known flights correspond to the reported event.

Two visible aircraft can be tracked in this location on 25th August 2025 between approximately 12:52 until 13:06.

Eurowings EWG51R

Aircraft Type: Airbus A320-251N

Flight Number: EW9364

Flight Path: Dusseldorf to Edinburgh

Barometric Altitude: 34,000ft

Speed: 489mph

Approx 12:52

United States Air Force

Aircraft Type: Boeing C-17A Globemaster III

Flight number: RCH169

Flight Path: Reykjavik to Prestwick

Barometric Altitude: 34,000ft

Speed: 499mph

Approx 13:05

Weather

The witness reported clear skies, warm conditions, and bright sunshine at the time of the sighting which has been confirmed with historic weather data. Such weather can strongly shape how objects appear in the sky. For instance, in bright sunlight an aircraft’s fuselage can reflect the sun and appear as a brilliant white or metallic “tic-tac” shape. Depending on the angle of reflection, the wings and tail may be far less visible especially if the object is several miles away. This can give the impression of a smooth and wingless craft moving across the sky and to the observer this can make an ordinary aircraft appear unusually featureless or uniform in shape.

Sound perception plays a role as well. For example, on a beach, natural background noise from wind and waves can cover the sound of an aircraft. Jet or propeller noises also tends to lag behind the aircraft itself, so by the time the sound reaches the witness the craft may already seem further along its flight path. This can create the impression that the object was completely silent in passing.

Conclusion

Given the description of the object, the clear atmosphere, bright sunshine, and supporting data from FlightRadar24 this sighting is consistent with how a high-altitude aircraft may appear under such conditions. Two aircraft were recorded in the area and both of these aircraft could have produced the visual effect described by the witness.

The United States Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III stands out as a likely candidate. Its large, distinctive shape and relative rarity in UK airspace compared with commercial aircraft could easily contribute to an unfamiliar and unusual appearance. At a distance strong sunlight can cause a fuselage to reflect brightly, obscure wings and tails and give the impression of a smooth, wingless, and silent “tic-tac” type object which closely matches the witness’s description.

Accurately judging the speed of an object in the sky is extremely difficult. Without clear reference points at altitude the eye can be easily misled when the object is reflecting sunlight or moving against a clear sky. An aircraft travelling at a normal speed can appear to cover great distances very quickly and give the impression of unusual or extraordinary velocity. Estimates of time, distance and height made without instruments are therefore unreliable as they can make an ordinary aircraft seem far faster than it really is.

James Bowen

BUFORA AI