A wave of panic and intrigue set off by what some observers thought was a launched missile in the air near Catalina Island may turn out to have been an airplane.

The object was spotted Monday afternoon by a KCBS-TV news helicopter in Los Angeles, leading to a variety of theories about its origin.   Local military bases said the thing had not been fired from their premises, and the Pentagon said it posed no threat to national security.

BNO News reports that a group of local scientists believe the perceived missile sighting was merely a "problem of perspective," however: 

"It seems perspective played a trick on the viewers' eyes, and the contrail was probably formed by an airplane."

NBC confirmed that opinion midday Tuesday, but the incident has not yet been laid to rest.

The Pentagon will continue to work the case.