Declassified government files have revealed fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a UFO that was following a Greek airline passenger jet.
In November 2007 the pilot of Olympic Airways flight 266 first spotted the UFO shortly after taking off from Athens en route to London. The flying object was also seen by staff at Athens airport, the pilots of two other passenger planes and people at a nearby air force base, The Sun newspaper reports.
The breathless Greek pilot radioed the airport control tower in Athens to ask if there was another jet close by.
"I see on my right, at approximately the same altitude, an unknown target flying from south to east," the unnamed pilot told the control tower.
"Altitude and heading are not stable — it is increasing speed — headings are erratic."
The Greek air force sent two fighters to investigate the UFO, which was described as looking like a star that moved erratically and constantly changed shape. However, it vanished into the upper atmosphere before the fighter jet pilots could get close enough to view it.
"I can confirm the incident," an Olympic Airlines spokeswoman said.
"It is the first of its kind involving our pilots."
Greek authorities kept the close encounter secret for over a year but have now released the documents and conversation recordings, generating huge public interest.
The UFO was not detected by radar, and Greek officials say it was probably mistaken for the planet Venus, which can be seen in the autumn night sky.
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