Possible Mystery Drone Sighting in Swansea, UK
Date & Time: March 20th, 8:15 PM GMT
Location: Swansea, UK
I think I’ve spotted something unusual in the skies over Swansea. Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to capture any photos or videos—at first, I assumed it was just a plane. In hindsight, though, something felt off.
As someone who has been an aircraft enthusiast for my entire life and a private pilot license holder, I usually have a good eye for these things. Swansea isn’t typically busy with aircraft traffic; our small local airport shuts down by 5 PM.
Tonight, the weather was clear, and I noticed an aircraft flying incredibly low and slow—approximately 200 feet at about 100 knots or less. It had standard lights but an unusually wide wingspan in relation to its fuselage. It appeared to be propeller-driven and was surprisingly quiet as it flew due east towards Port Talbot.
If I had to take a guess, I would say it resembled a large motor glider. Oddly enough, I couldn’t find any trace of it on Flight Radar or other tracking platforms. Around the same time, I noticed an RAF Poseidon doing multiple circuits over Cardiff, about 45 miles to the east, which I thought was curious.
While it’s possible this could have been a larger military drone like a Reaper, it didn’t sound like a turboprop at all. I’m left a bit perplexed by the whole experience. I’m hoping for a clearer sighting in the future!
That does sound like an intriguing sighting! With your background as an aircraft spotter and PPL holder, it’s clear you have a good eye for details. The description of a low-flying, prop-driven aircraft that isn’t showing up on flight radar is certainly puzzling, especially given the typical air traffic in Swansea.
It’s interesting that you noted the wide wingspan relative to the fuselage. That could indicate a specialized type of aircraft or even a drone, especially if it was operating quietly. The proximity of the RAF Poseidon might also suggest some military activity in the area, although it seems unlikely they would be flying a drone that low without it being tracked.
Have you considered sharing your experience with local aviation or drone enthusiasts? They might have insights or similar experiences. Regardless, it’s always exciting to have a mystery in the sky! Hopefully, you’ll have another opportunity to spot something more definitive next time.