LEGUEVIN (31) 01.01.2012

A report dated 12 April 2014 describes an earlier observation in Léguevin (31), catalogued as 1 January 2012. While waiting for local fireworks, a witness saw a cylindrical shape with a red light at its center passing silently overhead beneath low clouds. He lost sight of it while fetching his camera. His son continued watching as it disappeared and reappeared farther away. According to the child, it finally disappeared leaving a red trail. Only 1 account was collected. Météociel records for Blagnac show a very cloudy sky and a sustained westerly wind of 20–30 km/h. The color, duration and speed fit sky lanterns, but the reported northeast then northwest positions initially conflict with that wind. GEIPAN notes that the observation was interrupted and could involve 2 similar objects successively arriving from the west. A windborne light such as a sky lantern then becomes plausible and, given the frequency of releases on New Year's night, highly probable. The unusual appearance for a lantern could result from viewing through a veil of cloud. GEIPAN classifies the case B: probable observation of sky lanterns.