SAINTE-SAVINE (10) 01.07.2014

On 1 July 2014 at 22:00 in Sainte-Savine (10), a witness awakened by a noise looked through his window and saw a triangular craft described as having 3 white lights at each extremity and a red light in the center. He heard a buzzing sound. The object seemed to skim the roof of the neighboring house. He went to fetch binoculars and a camera, but the UAP disappeared before he could photograph it. Only 1 account was collected. The witness's first thought was a drone. GEIPAN considers the buzzing and impression of proximity compatible with that explanation, as well as possibly the lighting, which the source describes as unregulated for civilian drones. The source also states that drone flights over towns, especially at night, were prohibited and reasons that such a flight would therefore not have been publicized. An internet search for possible drone use near Troyes at the reported date and time found nothing. An airplane or helicopter seemed difficult to reconcile with the lights, which did not match aircraft navigation lighting. Further analysis required information omitted from the questionnaire: the UAP's height when first seen; its angular size; whether a triangular shape was actually seen or inferred from the lights; whether the lights were steady or flashing; and daytime photographs of the surroundings, particularly from the witness's position at the window. An email requesting clarification of each point received no reply. A drone remains possible, but because of the missing information GEIPAN classifies the case as C: lack of reliable information.