Bright UFO seen by pilots in 1960

Summary

In September 1960, an airborne aircraft spotted a fast-moving bright object over the Pacific. Observers in an aircraft at 11,000 feet saw it traveling from south to north. Initially, it had the brightness of the Echo I satellite, then it suddenly dimmed and turned off. After a few seconds, it reappeared with ten times the brightness, shut off again, and finally disappeared over the horizon. The phenomenon lasted between 2 and 3 minutes.

Although the observers thought it might be an aircraft, the official explanation didn't satisfy everyone. The object displayed unusual behaviors, such as sudden changes in brightness and a speed exceeding that of an F-104. The Air Force evaluated the case as an aircraft, suggesting it could have been a landing light causing the effect. However, the object's description and behavior suggest it might have been something more unusual.