MARMANDE (47) 17.12.2021

On 17 December 2021 at 17:15, a witness was driving home from work when, near the roundabout between Tridome and the Centre Leclerc in Marmande (47), he noticed a stationary point of light in the sky to the north-northwest. It shone strongly, and he thought it was reflecting the setting Sun. He drove in that direction alongside the Leclerc centre and parked near the Point P shop, still in Marmande. Getting out, he looked east and saw the bright point moving towards Marmande. He then made out a shape consisting of 2 white blocks joined by a curved metallic-grey section. He took several photographs and a short video before the UAP disappeared towards Marmande and he lost sight of it near Intermarché, to the south-southeast. The observation lasted about 3 minutes. Only 1 account was collected. The case has a good amount of reliable information: the account is well documented and supported by photographs and a video. The witness made himself available, which greatly helped the investigator; see the investigation report. The strangeness lay chiefly in the witness's perception of an unexplained phenomenon: “It was moving in slow motion; I was already sure it wasn't an aircraft. At that speed an aircraft would crash.” He perceived a large, bright object moving very slowly. After studying the file and data from several aviation applications, GEIPAN concluded that he had observed Beluga flight BGA121J, a scheduled Saint-Nazaire–Toulouse flight. It passed at the same time, at the observed azimuths and the correct angular elevation. At 63 m long and about 19 m high, the Beluga is an unusually large aircraft. GEIPAN considers that the surface it presented to the setting Sun that day must have reflected very strongly, greatly intriguing the witness. GEIPAN classifies this observation A: an aircraft, Beluga flight BGA121J, strongly reflecting sunlight.