---
title: "RAF pilots report UFO sighting off Norfolk coast during North Sea mission"
url: "https://usubjects.com/article/raf-pilots-report-ufo-sighting-off-norfolk-coast-during-north-sea-mission-3302"
updated: "2026-08-14T16:00:50.011Z"
description: "RAF pilots reported spotting an unidentified object off the Norfolk coast during a North Sea refueling mission, estimating it was only about 100 to 150 feet away. The sighting has drawn interest as another UAP case, though the details remain sparse and no clear explanation has been confirmed."
sources: ["https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/26432391.ufo-spotted-off-norfolk-coast-raf-pilots-mission/"]
licence: "All rights reserved"
---

# RAF pilots report UFO sighting off Norfolk coast during North Sea mission

Published: 2026-08-13  
Source: [Anomalist](https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/26432391.ufo-spotted-off-norfolk-coast-raf-pilots-mission/)

### Overview

Two **Royal Air Force pilots** reported seeing an unidentified object off the **Norfolk coast** during a routine **air-to-air refuelling mission** over the North Sea, according to a case highlighted by the **UK Airprox Board**. The sighting, which took place near **Cromer in February**, has attracted renewed attention because the object reportedly passed extremely close to the aircraft before disappearing, leaving investigators without a confirmed explanation. While the incident has been discussed in the context of **UAP**—the modern term often used for unexplained aerial phenomena—official details remain limited.

### What the pilots reported

According to the account, the mission involved an **RAF Typhoon** being refuelled by a tanker aircraft at around **16,000 feet**. During the operation, one of the pilots in the tanker reportedly **ducked as the object shot past**, while the fighter jet pilot being refuelled also said he saw the unidentified object. The distance involved was estimated at just **100 to 150 feet**, close enough to raise immediate concern for flight safety. Despite the proximity, the object did not appear on the pilot’s radar, adding to the uncertainty surrounding what was observed.

### Why the report matters

The **UK Airprox Board** reviews incidents involving near misses and other aviation safety concerns, including encounters with unidentified objects, in order to improve air safety. In this case, the board’s involvement underscores that the event is being treated not as a sensational story, but as a **potentially significant aviation safety incident**. Reports like this are of interest because they can help identify gaps in detection, tracking, and pilot awareness, even when the object in question cannot be definitively classified.

### Limited evidence, no confirmed explanation

At this stage, there is **no clear public explanation** for what the pilots saw. The fact that the object was not detected on radar means investigators may have only the pilots’ observations to rely on, and such reports can be difficult to verify after the fact. Possibilities in cases like this can range from weather balloons or drones to debris or other aircraft, but none of those explanations has been confirmed here. The sparse details mean the incident remains an open question rather than a substantiated UFO finding.

### Broader context

The Norfolk sighting comes amid continued public interest in **unidentified aerial phenomena**, especially when credible witnesses such as military pilots are involved. It also follows other recent aviation-related reports, including a separate account at **Gatwick Airport** in which a pilot claimed to see a **“flying saucer”** on approach. For now, the RAF case off Cromer stands as another reminder that unexplained sightings continue to surface in controlled airspace, even as official reporting systems focus primarily on safety rather than speculation.

## Provenance

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