CASE-PILOTE (972) 25.10.2019

On 25 October 2019 at 11:00, a witness on his terrace in Case-Pilote (972), with his daughter and wife present, saw a luminous object stationary above the sea whose behavior seemed unusual. He fetched binoculars and then his camera. For 12 minutes he observed its movements, including stops, rotation and straight-line travel. It eventually followed an ascending path and disappeared into clouds. He supplied photographs with his questionnaire and as attachments. GEIPAN's analysis found that the UAP seen by the 3 witnesses was very probably a Mylar novelty balloon drifting in the light wind present at the time; see the investigation report. It might have escaped from its owner on a beach southeast of the witnesses. This conclusion rests on its novelty shape; electric-blue color and high brightness, consistent with sunlight reflected by a metallized surface; a stem used to hold the balloon; movement with the prevailing calm to very light wind, producing stationary intervals and rotation around a vertical axis; and calculated or measured speeds, distances and dimensions compatible with the balloon explanation. GEIPAN also notes that it could have come from a beach west of Fort-de-France. School holidays and mild temperatures would have favored vendors walking the beaches selling novelty balloons to children. These are possible origins rather than a confirmed release location. The case is classified as A: observation of a Mylar-type novelty balloon.