DIGNE-LES-BAINS (04) 13.06.2023

On 13 June 2023 around 15:00, a witness in his garden in Digne-les-Bains (04) saw a silent white UAP shaped like a gas tank. It appeared stationary, although it slowly moved from southeast to east. He watched for 10–20 seconds before it disappeared behind cloud. The account was received on 5 March 2024. The case has moderate evidential strength*, with one account and no photograph or video. *Under GEIPAN's criteria, evidential strength is the amount of information collected for an account that is considered reliable and objectively substantiated. Three hypotheses were investigated (see investigation report): 1. A large sounding balloon, which could match if it had descended and begun partially deflating. 2. A Zeppelin-type airship, possibly traveling to take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Checks ruled this out because none was in the area at the time. 3. An airplane, possibly military. The last hypothesis is the most plausible: - The shape fits a fuselage; atmospheric scattering could prevent wings or other lateral features from being resolved. - White is common on commercial airliners but less usual on military aircraft, favoring a civilian plane. - Witness estimates and calculations of apparent size, altitude, distance and speed fit an aircraft. Moderate speed at high altitude, amplified by perspective, could create the impression of slowness. - At the estimated altitudes, atmospheric conditions may not have supported a contrail, consistent with its absence. The reporting delay prevented a request to CNOA, the National Air Operations Center, to check for a matching aircraft. Collaborative flight-tracking platforms were searched, but no compatible track was found. A disabled transponder or limitations in these publicly available services' coverage and completeness could explain this absence. The case is classified B: probable observation of an aircraft.