FLORENSAC (34) 30.09.2019

On 30 September 2019 at 20:00, a witness saw a flash and thought of a thunderstorm, although no cloud was visible. A very powerful light suddenly appeared and forced him to close his eyes. On reopening them, he saw a cylindrical object turning along a curved path before trees hid it. The metallic-coloured UAP had lights along its side, but he saw no wings and heard no sound. No other account was collected. GEIPAN considers it probably a military transport aircraft, such as a C-130 Hercules, seen under particular conditions (see investigation report). The conclusion rests on these points: - The initial flash resembles an anti-collision-light flash. The witness immediately looked away to seek the suspected storm’s origin, preventing observation of subsequent flashes. On looking back, the strong glare again prevented him from distinguishing them. - The glare was probably one or more landing lights pointed toward him. He compared it to the Sun, with the same pale-yellow colour attributed to these lights. He mentioned “lamps” along the UAP’s side but gave no number, colour or flashing pattern; they may have been navigation lights. - He closed his eyes because of the glare and therefore could not see the subsequent movement or confirm his claim that it passed over his house. GEIPAN invokes a retinal afterimage, combined with twilight, distance and low angular elevation, to explain why he saw only a cylinder farther west. The wings would have been visually aligned with the fuselage, concealing them and other detail. This was his principal perceived anomaly. - A slow, broad curve is compatible with such an aircraft at low altitude. - Istres air base, which hosts this type of military aircraft, is about 120 km away. - The other anomaly is silence. Although wind was favourable to carrying sound, it was very weak, and distance may have prevented audibility. GEIPAN raises the question of why a low aircraft passing above the house was unheard, but emphasizes that this passage was not confirmed because the witness had closed his eyes; it may actually have passed farther away. The investigation could not formally establish that a C-130 Hercules was in the area at the time. GEIPAN classifies the case B: probable military transport aircraft, of the C-130 Hercules type, observed in unfavourable circumstances.