SAINT-JEAN-DE-BOISEAU (44) 12.09.2021

On 12 September 2021 at 01:15, 2 witnesses at home in Saint-Jean-de-Boiseau (44) saw about 10 orange points moving from north toward southeast. They all dimmed and went out at approximately the same place. A photograph was taken, but only 1 account was collected. GEIPAN favors sky lanterns. Their point-like orange appearance fits, as does movement with winds recorded at Bouguenais, 9 km away, and Saint-Philibert-de-Grand-Lieu, 18 km away: directions of 10° and 355°. Wind speeds of 4 km/h and 0 km/h meet the light-wind conditions described as necessary for a release. Fading is typical of a lantern extinguishing. The Saturday-to-Sunday night is favorable for celebrations involving releases, and the 5-minute duration is also typical. No specific confirmation, such as a release declaration to the gendarmerie, was found. GEIPAN classifies the case B: probable sky lanterns.