PLOMBIERES-LES-BAINS (88) 08.09.2013

On Sunday 8 September 2013 at 04:19, 2 people in Plombières-les-Bains were intrigued by very bright red lights appearing successively and moving silently in the same direction. The short summary specifies 5 lights. One witness filmed the sighting and posted the video on a dedicated website. Investigators commissioned by GEIPAN conducted a field investigation. The timing, video, wind direction, accounts and measurements showed that these were sky lanterns. The release location was eventually found with some difficulty, as detailed in the investigation report. GEIPAN considers the witnesses sincere but mistaken in their interpretation: they had initially ruled out lanterns on the basis of internet research. It classifies the case as A, fully explained as sky lanterns released during a private party.