MARSEILLE (13) 05.08.2014

On 5 August 2014 at 23:10 in Marseille, a witness saw a light burn away, leaving a white trail extending several hundred meters through the night sky. The sighting lasted 5 seconds. No other account was collected. The witness suspected atmospheric reentry. The description suggests an illumination flare (see the example video). Persistent smoke is characteristic of such devices and could remain visible in city lighting. The witness looked west toward the sea, in the direction of the Vieux-Port, MUCEM and Frioul islands, including Château d'If as listed in the source. Possible sources include summer festivities or distress flares from boats, which the source notes would normally be red. The source adds that reentering space debris does not leave persistent low-altitude trails. GEIPAN classifies the case B: probable illumination flare.