[AERO 2xRYR, RAM, EIN] BORDEAUX (33) 14.04.2010

On 14 April 2010 at 22:44, the crews of 5 commercial flights saw a point of light changing color toward the west-northwest. GEIPAN's analysis separates them into 2 groups. For RYR57ZB and RAM697, flying substantially north of the other 3, roughly between La Rochelle and Limoges, the observation fits Venus particularly well, since it was clearly visible off to their side. For RYR8CW, RYR7CT and EIN577, east of Bordeaux, visibility of Venus is uncertain because the aircraft noses might have obstructed it. A short radar track is difficult to interpret and could point toward an unknown object, but the absence of detailed crew accounts leaves insufficient support for that conclusion. GEIPAN attributes the multicolored scintillation to dispersion of Venus's light through fluctuating atmospheric layers, together with rapid aircraft movement at cruising speed and Earth's rotation. The event initially appeared highly unusual, but the investigation reduced that assessment to moderate strangeness. GEIPAN calls the overall evidential basis very good because of the multiple accounts, while regretting that they are very brief. It classifies the case B: very probable observations of Venus near the horizon.