GARDE (LA) (83) 20.08.2021

On 20 August 2021 at 20:18, the principal witness on a balcony in La Garde (83) saw a round, light-colored UAP moving horizontally in a straight line. His son, T2, recorded a short smartphone video in which it is visible for a few seconds. GEIPAN judges the evidential strength moderate. Although there were 2 witnesses, only 1 account was submitted. The video's quality and brevity provide little material for analysis. The source refers readers to GEIPAN's website definition of evidential strength. The UAP's appearance and behavior fit a balloon carried by the wind; see the investigation report. Its round shape, color and straight horizontal trajectory are consistent, and reconstruction of local winds at ground level and low altitude shows the apparent path following the wind. GEIPAN considers a toy balloon probable, perhaps lost in Toulon, a nearby city west of the sighting location, or its tourist surroundings. The investigation could not establish the precise release site. The case is classified as A: observation of a balloon.