[Upstate NY Guy]

Flying at night is a strange experience in which perceptions of position and motion can become seriously distorted. It has to be experienced to be properly appreciated.

The thing I don't understand is how he would see Venus when flying east (Toronto to Zurich) in the evening over the Atlantic. Venus is high and bright in the western sky right now. It's visible from sunset until maybe midnight or so. How would he think this was an oncoming plane if he was flying east?

[A.A. Cunningham]

Venus is high and bright in the western sky right now.

Where was Venus in the sky when this occurred in January 2011?

[ArrogantBustard]

According to the article, the incident occurred in January, 2011.

The "news" is the release of an incident report.

[Hulka]

A bright light that remains relatively motionless on the canopy means (if it is indeed an aircraft of some sort) the object is on a collision course, be it coming straight at you or from the sides.

[UCANSEE2]

The thing I don't understand is how he would see Venus when flying east (Toronto to Zurich) in the evening over the Atlantic.

"The flash of light you saw in the sky was not a UFO. Swamp gas from a weather balloon was trapped in a thermal pocket and reflected the light from Venus. "

[cookcounty]

Well, you’re not flying east, you’re flying Northeast, maybe NNE, and you’re on the left (NW side, maybe WNW side) of the deck. You could see Venus from there over your left shoulder, especially since Venus has been a little north of due west..