[A34] de NOVY-CHEVRIERES (08) vers CHARLEVILLE-MEZIERES (08) 29.03.2016

The title dates this case 29 March 2016, while the narrative says 29 March 2017 at 07:19. A motorist on the A34 towards Charleville-Mézières saw a bright point in a clear sky, then a dark shape that might be an aircraft. It appeared stationary and seemed to pour out material resembling smoke mixed with water. On reaching a position beneath it, he took photographs and video, discerning a triangular shape, 2 large wings and a central red light before it disappeared from view. GEIPAN identifies an Airbus A380-841 under particular viewing conditions: Singapore-to-CDG flight SQ336, registration 9V-SKF, callsign SIA336 (see the investigation report). The apparent stationarity or slow motion during part of the sighting is attributed to a pivot effect. The witness and aircraft moved with opposing directional components, so the sightline pivoted near a fixed point. Unable to judge changing distance, he perceived the UAP as almost stationary. The apparent discharged material was intermittent contrails as the high aircraft crossed varying contrail-forming conditions. Page 18 of the report links to A380 contrail videos. Changing brightness and colour came from reflected sunlight, although the Sun itself was not visible to the witness. Changing geometry caused different aircraft surfaces to reflect light, sometimes intermittently. As the aircraft descended, the Sun approached its apparent horizon and reddened, producing what the source describes as a rapid sunset from the aircraft, and the reflection reddened too. These reflection effects were reproduced in simulation. GEIPAN classifies the case A: airliner observation.