ExpressJet Pilot Reports "Missle or Rocket"

Local Texas officials and federal law enforcement got together this week to try to determine just what an ExpressJet Airlines pilot saw while flying at about 13,000 over Liberty, Texas last Friday.

According to a report in The Houston Chronicle, The pilot reported a “missile or rocket” flying near his airplane Friday at  2009, shortly after takeoff from Bush Intercontinental Airport, according to sheriff’s officials. “The FAA then contacted the Liberty County department dispatcher and reported their pilot reported an object flying straight at his aircraft and passed 100 feet under it,” said Ken DeFoor, chief deputy for the Liberty County Sheriff’s Department.

FBI spokeswoman Shauna Dunlap said the agency was aware of the sighting. “While we have no information to indicate there was a criminal act we certainly do not rule anything out and certainly would not want to speculate on what it may or may not have been,” she said.

DeFoor said he knows local hobbyists fire rockets nearby, but did not know if any were in the area when the incident occurred. “Were checking with club owners and presidents,” he said. “If we can get a correct track of what this object was there is no need to check with hobby fields.”

If the object was a rocket, DeFoor said, it was launched illegally. “They have to have permits to use the airspace,” he said.

A Continental Arilines pilot reported a similar incident in May of last year.

FMI: http://www.co.liberty.tx.us/