SAINT-MEDARS-D'EYRANS (33) 14.06.2021

A witness driving on the A62 between Bordeaux (33) and Toulouse (31) saw a UAP near Saint-Médard-d’Eyrans (33) between 07:10 and 07:20. Its intense brightness caught his attention. Over 5–10 seconds it dimmed, revealing an apparently stationary metallic-grey sphere. He lost sight of it after a total estimated observation of 20–30 seconds. Only one account was collected. GEIPAN rates strangeness and evidential substance* as moderate: one account and no photograph. The initial appearance fits reflected light from a weather balloon, as the witness suggested, an aircraft or a simple novelty balloon. The investigation ruled out weather balloons and aircraft. No weather balloon was airborne in the area. The report also says that no aircraft other than one observed by the witness was present, treating that known aircraft separately from the UAP (see investigation report). A novelty balloon fits the sphere’s intense shine fading to metallic grey. It could have been Mylar, a highly reflective aluminized material commonly used for such balloons. The Sun had risen east-northeast, while the UAP was southeast, allowing a temporary strong reflection. It could fade as the Sun–balloon–witness alignment changed. The witness’s rapid motorway travel changes the reflection geometry and also makes actual object motion difficult to assess because of parallax. The UAP was lost too quickly to establish its real movement, so GEIPAN cannot confirm whether it followed the wind. Helium balloons can remain aloft for days, including overnight, and travel far after release or escape. The investigation could not determine where this possible balloon originated. Classification B: probable novelty balloon. *GEIPAN defines evidential substance as the quantity of information collected for an account that is considered reliable.