2010 · Amsterdam to Málaga, over Spain, FL410
The rounded rectangle over Spain
From Capt. Christiaan van Heijst's account to Euronews: a rounded-rectangle object in view for about an hour from a 747 at FL410 over Spain, 23 Jan 2010. · Illustration for uaptrail.com
When23 January 2010
WhereAmsterdam to Málaga, over Spain, FL410
On 23 January 2010, Dutch 747 captain Christiaan van Heijst saw a rounded-rectangle object at about 41,000 feet on a flight from Amsterdam to Málaga. It stayed in view for about an hour. Madrid air traffic control and military controllers confirmed there was no traffic as far as Morocco. It is one of four sightings he reports between 2005 and 2010, one near Greece in 2005 as the USS Theodore Roosevelt group passed.
How plausible · Moderate
A named 747 captain watched an object for an hour at FL410; by his account civil and military ATC confirmed no traffic.
- ●●Access From the cockpit.
- ●●No gain sought Nothing sold.
- ●●Character record Airline captain.
- ●○Cost of speaking Named captain.
- ●○Restraint Describes the shape only.
- ●○Independent convergence Civil and military ATC, by his account.
Plausibility weighs how well an account fits where secrecy hides the documents by design, so missing records never count against it. Strength measures what is documented. Assessed 2026-10-23.
Claims
A rounded-rectangle object was visible for about an hour at flight level 410; Madrid ATC and military ATC confirmed no traffic as far as Morocco. (firsthand; 747 captain Christiaan van Heijst, to Euronews)firsthandSourced, unconfirmedChristiaan van Heijst
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