BASTIA (20) 07.02.2013

Around 21:45 on 7 February 2013, a witness and his wife in Bastia saw a slow-moving object that puzzled them. It first appeared luminous, then became black and cylindrical as it changed direction, as described in the summary. GEIPAN found the description typical of an approaching aircraft. The reported time matched the arrival window of Air Corsica's Marseille–Bastia flight, departing Marseille at 21:05 and normally landing at 21:55. Bastia-Poretta airport was 3–4 km northwest of the viewpoint in a straight line. The appendix shows approach paths, with the route used in southwesterly wind highlighted in red, matching that day's weather report. The witness thought the phenomenon was at half the altitude of usual aircraft. GEIPAN notes that he was away from home and had a different viewpoint. It also suggested that the pilot might have chosen a lower approach for operational reasons not established in the account. GEIPAN classified the case A: observation of the Marseille–Bastia flight on approach to landing.