Airspace west of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
The King Air Crew Over Londrina: "It Gives Us Chills"
Around 21:00 on 13 July 2026 the crew of King Air C90 PR-OTE asked Londrina Approach about intense lights west of the city. ATC said a similar report had already reached the tower and no known traffic was expected there. NAV Brasil confirmed the communication and forwarded it through normal channels
Why This Case Matters
An excellent modern corrective case: genuine pilot/ATC reporting and multiple local observers, followed by a specific satellite explanation rather than an unexplained aviation mystery.
Chronology
- 13 Jul ~21:00 PR-OTE crew reports two intense fast-appearing lights around bearings 290–300°
- controller notes prior similar report and no known traffic
- NAV Brasil confirms/forwards occurrence
- local residents provide similar recordings
- GEDAL specialist compares repeated observations/tracking and identifies Starlink
The Witnesses
Evidence
The following evidence types are documented for this case:
Conventional explanations: Starlink satellite flares are the leading and specific identification. Aircraft motion, lack of reference points and autokinesis can exaggerate apparent circular/rapid motion.
What Remains Unresolved
- Reconstruct exact Starlink satellite IDs/tracks for 21:00 local and the crew's line of sight
- obtain FAB/COPM final case disposition if issued.
Key Takeaways
- The pilot report is authentic and worth preserving, but follow-up evidence strongly favours Starlink. Do not present 'no known traffic' as excluding satellites.
Sources
Primary and secondary sources for this case file: