[AERO CTRL] UZEIN (64) 13.12.2022

On 13 December 2022 at around 17:50, the main witness (T1) stationed at the control tower of Pau-Pyrénées airport, observed from the tower terrace the presence in the sky of a UAP of approximately round shape and dark colour with a luminous point. The object followed a straight and stable trajectory from east to west. The luminous point disappeared when the UAP passed north of the tower. A colleague (T2) also observed the UAP, which eventually disappeared on the horizon, heading north-west. After informing the Detection and Control Centre (CDC) "Marina" at Mont-de-Marsan, which confirms the absence of any aircraft at low altitude, as well as the Gendarmerie des Transports Aériens de Pau, a second unidentified aerospace phenomenon (UAP), identical to the first, appears at the same location and follows a similar trajectory. This happened simultaneously with the final approach of an Air France flight on runway 31 of the airport. Neither the crew of this flight, contacted by the control tower, nor the gendarmes present could observe this second UAP. A small light point, slightly yellower than the first UAP, is also visible and disappears under similar conditions when the UAP reaches a position north of the control tower. The two colleagues of the main witness, T2 and T3, also observe this UAP, which eventually disappears in the same way as the first one. According to the GEIPAN criteria, this observation case is of satisfactory evidential quality*. Despite the absence of photographs and videos of the UAPs, it is corroborated by several detailed and precise testimonies. *Evidential quality is the amount of information collected for an account that is considered reliable and objectively established. The investigation revealed that the characteristics of these two UAPs, as described by the witnesses, were fully compatible with those of objects carried by the wind, either novelty balloons, possibly in Mylar, or sky lanterns (see investigation report). This first conclusion is based on the following: - Moving in the direction of the prevailing wind, east to west - Regular straight line - Vaguely round shape for T1, rounded and slightly elongated upwards for T2 and spherical for T3 - The calculations give a distance travelled of about 300 m with a closest distance of about 65 m from the witnesses, at a speed of 5 m/s (the wind speed at an altitude of 150 m). GEIPAN then determined that these objects carried by the wind were sky lanterns, not balloons, because of the following: - presence of a white light followed by a yellow light, placed at the UAPs’ base by T2 and T3 - disappearance of this light, corresponding to the extinction of the candle - T3: "for me it is in both cases Japanese lanterns" - oval shape. The observation conditions at dusk did not allow T1, to clearly identify these lanterns, which is not the case for T3, for whom this hypothesis seems to be unquestionable. GEIPAN explains the disappearance of the lights as the lanterns’ fuel burning out. The observation took place on Tuesday evening, but lantern releases usually take place on weekends, during special celebrations (weddings, birthdays...). However, as Christmas approaches, a release of two lanterns by a private individual in preparation for the holidays is possible. GEIPAN classifies the case as "A": observation of two sky lanterns.