Pilot Reports Cylindrical UAP Encounter Over Rhode Island, Captured on Video

A noteworthy aviation incident unfolded in the airspace over Rhode Island toward the close of 2025, drawing the attention of aviation authorities. The pilot of a light aircraft, specifically a Piper PA-32RT-300T Turbo Lance II, reported a close encounter with an Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (UAP).

The object was characterized as a silvery cylinder, which briefly maintained a parallel course with the aircraft while flying at an altitude estimated to be several thousand feet. Following this period of close proximity, the object abruptly vanished from view. This observation was captured on video during an Air Traffic Control (ATC) live feed, lending significant credibility to the report due to the accompanying audio evidence.

The Piper PA-32RT-300T Turbo Lance II was operating at an altitude the pilot gauged to be in the low thousands of feet when the sighting occurred. According to the eyewitness account, the object appeared stationary relative to the moving aircraft, suggesting a degree of controlled maneuvering rather than passive drift caused by wind currents.

ATC personnel initiated standard protocols in an attempt to identify the observed entity, querying the pilot whether the object might be a drone or a weather balloon. However, the pilot emphasized the absence of any discernible propulsion systems, a characteristic that sets it apart from typical aerostats or crewed aircraft. Furthermore, other pilots monitoring the radio frequency chimed in, corroborating the unusual nature of the sighting.

The description of the object—a silver cylinder—echoes patterns found in other UAP reports documented by the Pentagon, where cylindrical shapes have also been noted. In the context of 2025, where concerns regarding drone safety remain high across Southern New England, such reports naturally garner heightened scrutiny. The aircraft involved, a Piper PA-32RT-300T Turbo Lance II, is a common single-engine plane featuring retractable landing gear, confirming the pilot was operating a standard civilian vessel.

This sighting, which took place shortly before the end of 2025, was preserved on video footage that surfaced online, notably appearing on the VASAviation channel in October. The pilot reportedly found the object unsettling, and observers noted that its ability to maintain a fixed position relative to the moving aircraft at 3,500 feet rules out the behavior of most known atmospheric phenomena. While recent AARO reports have attributed many incidents to drones or balloons, this specific case stands out due to its unique shape and dynamic behavior, marking it as one of the few instances warranting deeper investigation.

Although not directly connected to the event, the regional industrial landscape includes Textron Inc., headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, a major entity in the aerospace and defense sectors. This incident in Rhode Island serves as yet another illustration of how civilian pilots are encountering phenomena that currently lack established explanations within existing aviation guidelines.