[R] de AIRVAULT (79) vers VIENNAY (79) 06.09.2015

On 6 September 2015 at 00:15, a witness driving between Airvault (79) and Viennay (79) saw 8 or 9 lights moving silently in a clear sky. Initially they formed 2 patterns: the first 4 made a square, and the last 3 or 4 were irregularly aligned. These subgroup counts are retained as given, although they do not fully account for the stated total. He stopped in a car park and examined the final light overhead, seeing a perfect orange-to-yellow circle. He took a mobile-phone photograph. The entire sighting lasted 8 or 9 minutes. No other account was collected. GEIPAN finds the overall appearance, mainly orange color and timing on a weekend night consistent with a group of sky lanterns. The closer view overhead also fits: a perfect circle with orange or yellow color moving within it. The witness's speed estimate of 90 km/h cannot fit the assumed wind speed, according to GEIPAN. It notes that speed estimates are difficult and subjective and that this one also conflicts with other parts of the account indicating much slower movement. GEIPAN classifies the case as B: high probability of sky lanterns.