1988/89 – Chilwell, Nottingham – Flying Triangle, Missing Time

Birmingham UFO Group Case Report

Author: Dave Hodrien

Release Year: 2023

Last Updated: 14/09/2026

In late September 2023 I released a report about a Flying Triangle sighting from Hythe in 2015. In response to this, a man named Andrew got in touch via Facebook Messenger to discuss a similar sighting he experienced back in 1988 or 1989. We corresponded back and forth a number of times to go over what took place in depth.

Sighting Details

Andrew believes the incident occurred in either 1988 or 1989. He sadly cannot recall the time of year. After spending the evening out attending a junior Chamber of Commerce meeting held at a building on Derby Road he headed for home about 11:30pm. As he was driving he was completely sober.

At the time of the sighting Andrew lived on a quiet cul-de-sac in Chilwell. He drove his usual route home. There were no traffic incidents which would have slowed down the journey, so it took approximately 20-30 minutes to travel the route.

He arrived home just before midnight. After parking up on the drive he sat in his car with the engine off to catch the end of an interesting radio programme he had been listening to on the way home (He cannot remember the name of the programme). After around 5 minutes it ended and he got out of the car.

It was a mild and still evening, with a clear sky. Andrew is interested in astronomy so looked up to admire the view of the stars. After a moment he walked towards his front door, before glancing up once more. As he did he realised there was a dark shape moving above him. He initially thought it must be a cloud, but then remembered that it was a very clear night.

The shape was moving and seemed to be very large in size and at quite low altitude over the house, although he openly admits he had no point of reference. Andrew estimates it was about the size of a football pitch (330 feet). The object was elongated triangular in shape with no lights or sound. It moved across the sky on a level and straight course, and as it moved it blocked out the stars. It felt ominous or foreboding, even a little frightening, as it passed directly overhead.

After it had passed over it just glided silently towards the horizon continuing on the same course towards the South East. It was not moving particularly fast, but did move at a steady and controlled speed. There was nobody else around in the neighbourhood at the time. Unfortunately, Andrew did not have a camera on him. There was one in the house, but he was worried to go and get it in case the object vanished. His wife at the time was asleep inside, but he did not open the door and shout to wake her up, he was too busy watching the UFO.

After several minutes he lost sight of the object as it disappeared from view behind his neighbour’s house. Andrew says that he is an aviation enthusiast and is well aware of what normal aircraft and airships look like. Whatever this thing was, it was neither. He was in awe of what he’d just witnessed so ran inside and woke his wife up to excitedly tell her what he’d seen.

When she woke up she said to him “Where have you been until this time?” When he checked the clock he realised the time was around 3am! The only mundane explanation he can think of which could possibly explain this anomaly was that he had fallen asleep in his car while listening to the radio. However, he has no recollection of doing so, or of waking back up again.

After discovering the time difference and wondering about it for a short while Andrew says that he got into bed and went to sleep.

Sighting Analysis

This is a fascinating sighting of a possible triangular shaped craft, commonly referred to as a “Flying Triangle”, which may or may not have involved direct interaction.

It is unlikely the object was a normal aircraft as there were no navigation lights visible on it, and the shape does not sound right for that explanation either. Usually the shape of the wings and tail would be more obvious.

While the B2 Stealth Bomber is triangular in shape, surprisingly quiet, and is often flown completely dark (with no navigation lights switched on) during military training exercises, there are a number of aspects which do not fit with this possibility. First of all, the object appeared to be low down and very large in size. A Stealth Bomber on a training exercise would not be flown at low altitude over residential housing. And even if it was then the sound of its engines would definitely have been heard. Also the shape of the object sounds different – the B2 Stealth Bomber is squat triangular in shape, not elongated as the witness describes.

It also sounds much too large to have been a hand glider or inflatable. A novelty hot air balloon again doesn’t sound likely. First of all, even if this was largely silhouetted, the flame at the basket would be visible after dark, especially as it moved away into the distance. Also it is illegal to fly hot air balloons after dark without a safety warning light, a flashing white light which hangs down below the basket to warn other air traffic.

Regarding the time discrepancy between when it should have been and when it actually was, which was only discovered after Andrew had entered the house, it seems unlikely that he did fall asleep in his car. He was interested in the radio programme; this is the reason why he kept it on after arriving home. And as soon as it ended he got out of the vehicle. Andrew also mentioned that he has never asleep while sitting in a car.

With these explanations dismissed, I feel there is certainly the possibility that this was a genuine sighting of a large Flying Triangle craft. The missing time aspect of the sighting suggests that this may have interacted with the witness without him being aware of this fact and that an abduction may have taken place which was then blocked out from his mind.

If so, then up till now the memories of what took place have not returned, although they may do so in the future. If Andrew gets back in touch with any further information, then this report may be updated.

Copyright Dave Hodrien 2026