ROYAN (17) 11.06.2014

Around 19:45 on 11 June 2014, a lone motorist in Royan (17) saw a fairly large white phenomenon low in the sky along the road ahead, towards east or southeast. He likened it to a flying saucer with a flat underside. Trees hid it as he continued, but several kilometres farther on he saw what he took to be the same phenomenon as a tiny point. Only 1 account was collected. Several hypotheses were examined; see the investigation notes. GEIPAN considered the rising Moon because the weather was fine, the UAP was very low on the horizon and remained distant, and the timing was close. At azimuth 116°, the Moon was aligned with the D25 at the roundabout where he first saw the UAP. However, missing details, particularly the final viewing direction, prevented confirmation. GEIPAN assessed the case as moderately strange with weak evidential support: a single witness, no photograph and a delayed report. It was too imprecise to identify. GEIPAN explains that it questioned the interpretation in the context of surprise, excitement and observing while driving, rather than the witness's visual perception. The case was classified C: insufficient detail.