Unidentified white object spotted over Sendai

NHK -- Jun 18

Police are trying to identify a white object that was seen flying over the city of Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan, early on Wednesday morning.

Police received many calls from residents across wide areas reporting sightings of the object. Some asked what the object was. Others said they were scared that it might fall.

Police in a helicopter investigated and confirmed the presence of an object at an altitude of more than 1,500 meters.

The object is a white sphere, with a white cross-shaped part and two propellers on the underside.

Police also checked with the transport ministry and the Meteorological Agency.

But they say they don't know who released the object and other details.

Local aviation authorities say people need to notify them to get permission before flying objects around airports or over densely populated areas. The authorities say they have not received such a notification.

The authorities say the white object reached the Pacific Ocean around noon and they don't know where it is now.

Police are continuing their investigation, including whether anything fell from the object.

Jun 18 (ANNnewsCH) - 空に謎の白い球体が現れ、驚きの声が上がっています。  夜明けとともにネットは騒然となりました。目撃した人、ファインダーをのぞいた人は異口同音に・・・。「何だろう・・・」。  白い球体。その下に金属製の何かがぶら下がっているように見えます。有力な情報は見つかりません。まさにUFO(未確認飛行物体)です。  仙台市の北、宮城県美里町でも。また、仙台市の南、宮城県亘理町でも。北上しているのでしょうか。少し早い時刻にはさらに南の福島市でも。取り付けられている機器の形状から気象庁のものではないとのこと。携帯電話の基地局でもないようです。また、宮城県が東北大学などに問い合わせたものの回答は「不明」でした。