2ᵉ page du rapport d'origine de la CAA
From:
B737 (1848) - 'c/s we just had something go down the RHS just above us very fast.'
Manchester - 'Well, there's nothing seen on radar. Was it er an ac?'
B737 - 'Well, it had lights, it went down the starboard side very quick.'
Manchester - 'And above you?'
B737 - 'er, just slightly above us, yeah.'
Manchester - 'Keep an eye out for something, er, I can't see anything at all at the moment so, er, must have,
er, been very fast or gone down very quickly after it passed you I think.'
B737 - 'OK. Well, there you go!'
The possibility that the object might have been a hang glider, paraglider or microlight was investigated, but
all the operating authorities, without exception, agreed that this was an extremely unlikely explanation, for
various reasons, but mainly because none of these activities takes place at night. In addition, there are
obvious hazards of flying in the dark, from high ground (the peaks in this area along the Pennine ridge range
from 1600 to over 2000 ft), string winds, and because these aircraft are unlit. JAS also explored the
possibility of military activity, but could find no evidence in support of this from any official source. In
any case, it seems most unlikely that such a flight would have been conducted in CAS and so close to a busy
international airport. Because of the B737's proximity to the uncontrolled airspace to the E of Manchester,
during the downwind leg, which covers the airmiss period, the possibility of unknown military or civil
activity in the adjacent FIR cannot be completely discounted. However, the likelihood of such activity
escaping detection is remote, as the area is well served by several radars and any movements a the levels in
question would almost certainly have generated a radar response.
Part B: Summary of the Working Group's Discussions
Information available to the Working Group included reports from the pilot of the B737, transcripts of the
relevant RT frequencies, a video recording, and reports from the air traffic controllers involved.