Kaikōura lights

After a Safe Air crew reported lights tracked by Wellington radar on 21 December, an Australian TV crew rode along on the Argosy newspaper run. On the night of 30–31 December they filmed lights pacing the aircraft off the Kaikōura coast in colour on 16 mm film, with Wellington controllers reporting matching radar returns.

Explanation

Explanations offered include Venus and Jupiter, squid-fishing boat lights, and meteors; none accounts for the radar returns to everyone’s satisfaction.

What was seen

Shape: Bright white lights with a red tinge; pulsing orb
Witnesses: Safe Air crew, TV crew, Wellington radar
Duration: Two flights on Dec 30–31

Browse

• New Zealand
• 1970s
• Disputed
• Aviation encounters
• Pilot and aircrew witnesses
• Radar tracking
• Audio recordings or radio transcripts
• Motion-picture film
• Lights and fireballs
• Spheres and orbs

Similar cases

• Aeroflot Tu-134 over Minsk — the light that became a cloud 7 September 1984
• Manises — airliner diversion & Mirage intercept 11 November 1979
• VASP flight 169 — the light that paced a Boeing 727 8 February 1982
• Japan Air Lines Flight 1628 17 November 1986