Drones Over West Seattle?
I live in West Seattle, and early this morning at around 1:40 AM, I observed a large, silent object in the sky that appeared to be a “drone.” It was flying slowly in a south-southeast direction at a low altitude, displaying a very unusual light pattern.
The object had a front light and a tail light, along with two wingtip lights—all white—and a striking red beacon on its underside. Notably, there was no green light on the starboard side. It made no noise and seemed to be about the size of a large sedan or minivan, appearing very low in the sky despite the darkness.
Considering that I’m within 10 miles of SeaTac International Airport, my initial thought was that it might be a conventional airplane. However, the peculiar arrangement of the navigation lights, the unusual flight path, and the complete absence of sound made me reconsider.
If it had been a plane, I wouldn’t expect to see the landing lights so prominently as it moved away, since landing lights typically shine forward.
I’ve seen some posts in local groups about sightings over Elliott Bay, but I haven’t come across anything regarding last night’s sighting on any of the pages or forums.
Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to get my phone camera ready in time due to a simple human error.
I did come across images online from the East Coast that closely resemble what I witnessed.
Did anyone else in Seattle notice anything unusual during the early hours of this morning?
That sounds like a really intriguing sighting! It’s always fascinating to witness something unusual in the sky, especially when it doesn’t fit the typical aircraft profile. Your description of the lighting configuration is particularly interesting; the absence of a green starboard light and the low noise level definitely raise some questions.
With the number of drones becoming more prevalent, it’s possible that what you saw was an advanced drone with a unique lighting setup, especially if it seemed to be flying at a low altitude and at a consistent speed. Given the location near SeaTac, it’s also possible it could have been related to some testing or a recreational flight, though the silence is a standout feature that suggests it might not be an ordinary drone or plane.
It would be great to get more eyes on the sky during those hours, as others might have seen the same thing. Maybe checking local drone regulations or community forums could shed some light on any related activity in the area. Keep an eye out, and hopefully, you’ll be able to capture it on camera next time!