POUILLON (40) 14.08.2022

On 14 August 2022 between 23:00 and 23:10, a witness at home in Pouillon (40) saw an extremely bright, apparently huge round yellow light with some red around the outside, approaching at a fairly low height. He and his wife watched it for about 20 seconds as it dimmed and disappeared into the night. About 30 seconds later, an identical phenomenon appeared in the same place and followed the same path, then a third. Only 1 account was collected. GEIPAN considers 3 sky lanterns very probable. Supporting features are the yellow-and-red colour; gradual dimming consistent with a flame going out; movement matching the wind reported at Dax, 11 km away; the light 4 km/h wind, since lanterns cannot be released in strong winds; and the date, the eve of a public holiday. Together these support sky lanterns. The case is classified A: observation of sky lanterns.