ARES (33) 19.02.2012

On 19 February 2012 at 09:15 in Arès (33), a witness opening a roof window saw an aluminium-grey spherical object pass over his house. During the few-second sighting it moved south-southwest without sound or trail, then disappeared into clouds. GEIPAN describes this windborne object as certainly a helium- or hydrogen-filled balloon, while classifying the case B: probable balloon. Possibilities include a weather balloon perhaps launched from Mérignac 1 hour earlier and carried to Arès by winds that changed substantially in the preceding hour; the source refers to weather records for Bordeaux and Biscarosse. More probably, it was a fairground balloon released from Lège Cap Ferret, or possibly a pilot balloon launched in preparation for hot-air-balloon flights.