CLUX-VILLENEUVE (71) 18.05.2019

On 18 May 2019 at 22:25, 2 people in a moving vehicle were surprised by a low-flying UAP with 3 lights, 1 flashing, in the night sky over Clux-Villeneuve (71). They stopped at the roadside. One filmed it, then both saw it curve around them. Panicking, they quickly drove away. GEIPAN investigated possible misidentifications of a drone and of an airliner approaching Dole-Jura airport; see the investigation report. It retained only the airliner explanation, for these reasons: - The white and red lights matched colours used on aircraft. - The video lights could be identified as the landing light; 2 of the 3 navigation lights, red on the left wing and white on the tail fin, with the right-wing green light probably hidden by the fuselage; and 2 white anticollision lights, one on the tail and one on the left wing, flashing at the frequency of those on an A319/A320/A321. - The reconstructed apparent path resembled an airliner initially almost facing the witnesses, approaching and passing to their left, then looping behind them towards Dole-Jura airport. - The sound on the video resembled aircraft engines, although the witnesses described only a whistling sound. GEIPAN classifies the case A: observation of an A319/A320/A321-type airliner approaching Dole-Jura airport, about 20 km from the witnesses.