SAINT-REMY-DE-PROVENCE (13) 16.07.2015

On Thursday 16 July 2015 at 22:21, a witness saw a low-flying object that seemed aflame. It moved silently west to east, stopped and changed direction, then disappeared within a few seconds in an apparently vertical movement with “surprising” acceleration. A phone photograph showed an orange “ball of fire.” No other account was collected. The investigation report supports a sky lantern: orange color; moderate speed consistent with little or no wind; movement with the prevailing wind; a short overall duration of 1 minute, compatible with lantern life; apparent disappearance caused by flame extinction; silence; and a season and location favorable to celebrations. GEIPAN classifies the case B: probable sky lantern.