PLOUHARNEL (56) 31.07.2013

Around 23:00 on 31 July 2013, a family at Plouharnel (56) saw a pair of bright yellow-orange lights moving silently in the sky. They suddenly began climbing in a straight line. The witness was in a small coastal village near the Quiberon peninsula, looking southeast to south just above its entrance on the Carnac side. The weather record showed a weakening southerly wind until 15:00, very variable winds from south then north up to 23:00, northeasterly at 23:00, and easterly after midnight. The source's weather citation is incomplete. GEIPAN considered the time and place favourable for sky-lantern releases, often made in groups. The wind recorded at Vannes matched the phenomenon's rising westward movement. Quiberon's recreational airfield lay in the viewing direction. An aircraft seen head-on could also fit the description, but GEIPAN considered night activity at this small airfield very unlikely. Once its forward lights went off, the witness should still have seen its flashing lights. GEIPAN found lanterns much more probable. Apparent stillness could have been motion towards the witness on a very local breeze. Lanterns can climb rapidly, and dimming is often interpreted as recession. A few minutes' visibility is typical; buildings or vegetation could have hidden the initial ascent after release. GEIPAN classified the case B: probable observation of sky lanterns.