TRANS-EN-PROVENCE (83) 14.06.2014

At 20:00 on 14 June 2014, a witness at Trans-en-Provence (83) saw a dark spherical object emerge from a remaining thunderstorm cloud and move slowly and silently north to south. His video showed it for only 2 seconds at a distance: an approximately spherical dark object reflecting sunlight. It then disappeared into another cloud. GEIPAN considered a balloon the simplest explanation, either a thermal balloon or one filled with helium, ranging from a small latex party balloon to a larger plastic-film balloon. Its slow straight movement fitted, but wind direction required checking. Toulon recorded westerly wind of 11–30 km/h turning southerly and weakening; Cannes recorded light southerly wind turning northerly. At Le Luc, 20 km away, following a late-afternoon thunderstorm, the wind at 20:00 was light and westerly, turning northerly at 21:00 and changing direction hourly. The source's weather references are incomplete. Thunderstorm activity thus made local low-altitude wind at the precise time impossible to determine, especially in the rugged terrain. The balloon explanation was compatible with the sighting but could not be confirmed from weather records. GEIPAN classified the case C for lack of verification and corroboration. The witness rejected the balloon hypothesis.