SAINT-ZACHARIE (83) 12.01.2015

On Monday 12 January 2015 at 07:00, a witness was intrigued by a diffuse light seen through a glazed door at home. Going onto his terrace, he found himself a few meters from an unidentified aerospace phenomenon approaching silently. A non-dazzling white light was at its front. It moved slowly between closely spaced mobile homes. The witness walked around his home and faced its right side, where a yellow and red “logo” was visible. He reported losing track of time as it continued north-northeast, tilted, then gained speed and altitude before disappearing above the trees. He then noticed its oval shape. The source summary describes the object as a charcoal-gray mass with lights. No other account was collected. GEIPAN considers the observation unusual because of the object's uncommon appearance at a very early hour while it was still night, in a very isolated location; see the investigation report. Its speed, size and shape were not extraordinary and could, in those respects, match an inflatable advertising balloon. However, its path was surprisingly fortunate in passing very close to obstacles. Such a balloon would have had to escape its owner, and its presence far from any advertising opportunity is difficult to explain. GEIPAN could not validate that hypothesis. GEIPAN considers the account's evidential basis good despite there being only 1 witness. That limitation and the absence of photographs place it just at the minimum needed to support the observation's unusual and unexplained character. The case was submitted to GEIPAN's panel of experts. GEIPAN classifies it D1: an unexplained phenomenon of moderate strangeness.