GARDANNE (13) 13.04.2013

Returning home on 13 April 2013 at 00:43, a couple saw 3 white-orange lights pass silently through a clear sky. One witness recorded 2 videos. No other account was collected. GEIPAN considers a formation moving straight for several minutes on a weekend night suggestive of sky lanterns. Wind direction alone cannot confirm this because it was very variable. However, the light wind fits the relatively long 3-minute observation and slow passage that allowed filming. The video has the usual lantern appearance: a very bright centre and an orange-red surrounding ring. Marignane weather records show a weakening westerly wind at 23:00 on 12 April. Between 00:00 and 02:00 on 13 April, it was light and very variable, northerly at 01:00. GEIPAN classifies the case B: probable sky lanterns.