Air carrier Captain reported observing unidentified lights high in the sky during cruise. The Captain reported the unidentified lights to ATC continued the flight.

Date: 2024-03 · Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing · Phase: cruise

Anomalies: conflict-airborne-conflict|inflight-event-encounter-other-unknown

Synopsis

Air carrier Captain reported observing unidentified lights high in the sky during cruise. The Captain reported the unidentified lights to ATC continued the flight.

Narrative

Four extremely bright white lights descended from well above our altitude and distance from our one o'clock position at an extreme speed. They stopped and flew along side of us for several seconds. The light on the right flew away towards our two o'clock distance and stopped where it began turning red and green in color. It flew along side of us for a few more seconds. Then the other three lights flew away to join the fourth green and red light and all four then climbed well above our flight level in a tear drop formation. I contacted Oakland Center and was advised there was no MOA in operation in our vicinity. The only other aircraft was 40 miles behind us; Aircraft Y. During this time the lights approached us again and then slowed to our speed. After about a few more seconds they climbed to a much higher altitude and disappeared. I did not see any lights or beams of light originating from the ocean surface. I contacted Aircraft Y behind us and they advised me they too saw what we did; and advised me 'You're not going crazy'. Aircraft Y and us discussed the possibility it may have been Company A Satellites; but the changing speeds and courses are not common to those satellites we have seen in the past; as well as the formation flight. Dispatch was also contacted and no MOA's or bulletins were in effect in our area.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.