PARIS (75) 07.05.2013

On the evening of 7 May 2013, witnesses in Paris (75) saw red-orange lights fly in pairs without trails. They described 6–8 lights on either side of the Montparnasse Tower, moving approximately southwest to northeast; see the map. Météociel records for nearby Paris-Montsouris show light southwesterly wind at 19:00 and 22:00, but northeast and southeast winds at 20:00 and 21:00. Orly recorded steadier southwesterly wind throughout. The witnesses gave no exact time beyond drinks-and-dinner time. Assuming southwesterly wind, the lights moved with it and their appearance and movement fit sky lanterns. The source notes that lantern releases are common on festive evenings even in cities, though strongly discouraged in urban surroundings. GEIPAN classifies the case B: probable sky lanterns.