BRESSEY-SUR-TILLE (21) 16.04.2017

At 01:45 on the night of 15–16 April 2017, a witness saw a luminous yellow UAP low in the sky, first with the naked eye and then binoculars. It appeared stationary, then moved and was lost behind trees. The witness estimated a duration of approximately 20 minutes. No other accounts were collected. GEIPAN found it compatible with an aircraft approaching Dijon-Bourgogne Airport (see the investigation report), initially distant with landing lights on, heading towards runway 17/35 while gradually approaching the witness. It considered a military transport, possibly a Transall C-160, manoeuvring or landing. The 2 steady red lights reported did not fit perfectly, but it found the other features supportive: - Although BA102 had closed, military aircraft still used the site for refuelling or exercises in 2017. - The Transall C-160 and Hercules C-130 remained operational that year. - Apparent immobility followed by slow movement could result from the aircraft's speed, distance and path initially along, then close to, the line of sight. - The duration was broadly compatible but required both slow flight near stall speed and an initial distance of several tens of kilometres. - Yellow lights matched landing lights, and red lights could be anticollision beacons, although the witness reported no flashing. - White anticollision strobes might be absent on that type or switched off. GEIPAN retained uncertainty about the number of lights: the only C-160 examples it found showed 2 landing lights and 1 red anticollision light. Nevertheless, it considered a military cargo aircraft approaching Dijon-Bourgogne a plausible explanation and classified the case B: probable aircraft on landing approach.