MARSEILLE (13) 16.10.2021

On 16 October 2021 at 22:00, a witness in Marseille (13) happened to see an egg-shaped object moving at constant speed through a clear sky and thought it was an escaped rubber balloon. He called his father, who also saw it. It continued steadily until lost from view after about 30 seconds. Only 1 account was collected. GEIPAN rates the evidential basis moderate: 2 witnesses but only 1 report, with no photographs or video; see the investigation report. The investigation concludes that the object was very probably a rubber balloon faintly illuminated by city lights and carried by the wind. Its oval shape was typical, and reflected urban light could explain its described brownish-salmon color. It emitted no light itself and was visible only by reflection. It was silent, traveled generally with the prevailing wind and appeared above a large city on a Saturday evening, favorable for local celebrations using balloons. GEIPAN classifies the case A: observation of a rubber balloon.