SAINT-QUENTIN (02) 14.01.2012

On 14 January 2012 at about 21:35, a witness on a fifth-floor balcony in Saint-Quentin (02) saw 3 small white lights outlining a dark triangle. It passed very rapidly and silently from south to north. GEIPAN considered an aircraft with approach lights on. Primary radar records showed only 1 high-altitude airliner at 21:48, a few kilometers west of directly over Saint-Quentin. The source calls this 7 minutes before the estimated observation time, inconsistent with its stated 21:35. Moreover, that aircraft traveled north to south, opposite the reported direction, so it does not match. The single account gives weak evidential support, while the steady, straight motion makes the case only slightly unusual. GEIPAN classifies it C: insufficient information, judging further investigation unlikely to add useful evidence.