[D201] DE SIERENTZ (68) VERS HABSHEIM (68) 09.11.2021

On Tuesday 09 November 2021 at about 7 p.m. on the road from Sierentz to Habsheim (68), the witness observed through his windshield, three fixed white/blue lights delimiting a triangular shape passing overhead for less than 30 seconds. No noise was perceived by the witness and the UAP moved away toward the north-northeast by slightly changing direction. Once returned home, the witness was able to see and hear two fighter aircraft heading "to the supposed last direction of the object". The evidential quality of this case is medium: a precise but single account and no photo or video. The investigation showed that the witness most likely observed an A400M military aircraft from Air Force Base 123 d'Orléans-Bricy conducting a very-low-altitude exercise south of Air Force Base 132 at Colmar (see investigation notes). This conclusion is based on the following: - Presence on site at the time of observation of an A400M, as part of major exercises of the Air Force - For the purpose of this exercise, this A400M was operating at low altitude in “stealth mode”, at a reduced speed and with a minimum of lights on. These can correspond to the two landing lights and one of the runway-illumination lights, located on one side of the fuselage. - Slow apparent displacement, with the A400M moving relatively slowly during exercise at low altitude. The actual speed is difficult for the witness to judge, who is himself on the move. - The A400M is a massive, imposing aircraft that gives a sense of proximity when flying at low altitude. The strangeness perceived by the witness is due to several factors: - lack of sound - the triangular shape. As for the absence of noise: the A400M is a noisy aeroplane when flying at full speed and when it is near the observer. The perception of the noise it emits depends on its speed but also on other factors, in particular the observation conditions, the distance separating it from the witness and the direction of the wind, whether or not it carried sound toward the witness. In this case the wind was weak to variable, so this element is not decisive for the perception of the noise. However, the observation conditions are important: the witness observes from his moving vehicle, initially with the windows closed and the aircraft was flying at reduced speed. These elements may suffice to explain that the witness did not initially perceive noise. As for the perceived triangular shape, it is the triangular shape determined by the only three visible lights. It is dark and the color of the apparatus is intrinsically dark. That is why the details (propellers, tail surfaces...) could not be perceived by the witness. GEIPAN classifies the case A: very likely an A400M conducting an exercise.