A UFO investigation has been launched in Ireland after both British Airways and Virgin pilots both reported mysterious bright lights "moving fast" past them in the sky.

The sightings occurred on November 9 around 7.40am as Air Traffic Control at Shannan Airport, Ireland, was asked if any "military exercises" were going on.

One pilot from a British Airways flight BA94 from Montreal to London asked mid-flight at 6.47am last Friday: “Is there any military exercises going on now?”

“Ok. It was moving so fast that I couldn’t even really see it.”

The pilot goes on to describe how a bright light sped past the aircraft heading north at a “very high speed”.

The pilot reported that after approaching on the left side, it "rapidly veered to the north".

Two other pilots also reported seeing the mysterious object, with one Virgin Airlines pilot on flight VS76 from Orlando to Manchester discussing the possibility of a meteor with “multiple objects following the same sort of trajectory”.

Another pilot added their shock at the speed of the unidentified object, saying the acceleration was “astronomical, it was like Mach 2”.

Airlive says a third pilot also saw the UFO-like lights.

Staff at Shannon Airport say they will be looking into the reports and the Irish Aviation Authority have confirmed they will be investigating the incident.

They told the Irish Examiner: “Following reports from a small number of aircraft on Friday, November 9, of unusual air activity, the IAA has filed a report.

“This report will be investigated under the normal confidential occurrence investigation process.”