CARCASSONNE (11) 13.06.2021

On 13 June 2021 between 23:35 and 23:40, a witness in his Carcassonne garden was observing the Moon through a telescope in darkness. He noticed a luminous point moving on a generally linear, slightly curved path. It emitted steady light, initially red and then white. He described lighthouse-like light: “soft, without flickering, strong and progressive,” first red until the west, then white and almost blue. He added that the illuminated patches might have been square or rectangular. Only 1 account was collected. A radar map from the National Air Operations Centre identifies 3 aircraft following the reported path at that time, 25–50 km from the witness. The appearance and behavior fit aircraft navigation lights (see investigation report). GEIPAN concludes that the nearest aircraft, a CESSNA 525, was observed. Two features seemed unusual: - The color changed from red in the north to white, almost blue, in the south. This fits the aircraft's lights: red side lighting on approach, followed by white rear lighting as it receded. This analytical north/south description differs from the witness's earlier “until the west” wording. - The possible square or rectangular shapes might reflect the influence of 4 aligned rectangular cabin windows on perception of the steady red left-wingtip light facing the witness. His “perhaps” indicates uncertainty. GEIPAN finds this point difficult to explain but not strongly unusual. The case is classified A: observation of a CESSNA 525 aircraft.