VELLERON (84) 21.04.2019

On Sunday 21 April at 22:10, a couple were driving on the D31 near Villeron (84). The woman in the front passenger seat was surprised by numerous round orange-red lights at low altitude to the east in a slightly hazy sky. With the window open, she recorded 2 successive mobile-phone videos while her husband continued driving. No particular sound was heard. The lights suddenly disappeared. Her husband also saw them, but less clearly because he was driving. Only 1 account was collected. GEIPAN rates the case as only slightly unusual and strongly supported, with 2 witnesses, 2 videos and a fairly precise account. It considers a sky-lantern misidentification very probable (see the investigation report). The videos and description strongly suggest lanterns: bright round orange-red lights seen on a weekend. The witness described them as stationary, but their apparent movement was actually slight, consistent with the complete absence of wind. Only the short duration and sudden disappearance seemed unusual. GEIPAN explains these by a change in the direction of the road along which the couple were travelling. The case is classified B: very probable misidentification of sky lanterns.