GISORS (27) 27.01.2024

On 27 January 2024 between 23:25 and 23:30, a witness at home in Gisors (27) noticed intense intermittent red light outside. Going to the window, he saw a shape moving at extremely high apparent speed. He heard no sound despite the open window. Continuing to watch, he saw several similar UAPs, apparently forming a geometric configuration, all moving in the same direction before disappearing. A second series appeared, and he recorded three videos. These objects followed the same route and disappeared in the same place. All moved southeast to northeast on a curved path at about 45° elevation. He described intensely bright red forms resembling broken lines. He said the videos did not faithfully reproduce their brightness or color: they appeared pale yellow in the recordings. The observation lasted about 5 minutes. Only one account was collected. The case has good evidential strength*, with three videos enabling detailed analysis despite the single account. *Under GEIPAN's criteria, evidential strength is the amount of information collected for an account that is considered reliable and objectively substantiated. The investigation explored sky lanterns, supported by the following: - Circular objects are clearly identifiable in the videos. Their apparent uniformity and synchronized movement could have caused a shape illusion, making the witness perceive a single object. - Red is compatible with some sky lanterns, although orange is more usual. Color perception differs between observers and, as the witness said, smartphone recordings do not reliably reproduce the actual hue. - The videos clearly show all the UAPs moving slowly together in one direction, typical of lanterns carried by wind. Meteorological data (appendices 1 and 2) show a weak surface wind from the southeast, azimuth 120–135°, estimated at 10–27 km/h. This fits a path from an initial southeast azimuth to a final north-northeast azimuth, stated here more specifically than the introductory northeast direction. The source also describes light wind as favorable to lantern releases, limiting uncontrolled drift and fire risk. - The 5-minute observation fits lanterns' stated lifetime of no more than 20 minutes. - High apparent brightness is possible against a black sky and suggests the lanterns were relatively close. - The sighting occurred on a Saturday, typical of lanterns released in groups for celebrations such as weddings or birthdays, explaining the observed waves. However, the originating event could not be found. - The first UAP's apparent recession and disappearance at 'very high speed' are explained by the first lantern exhausting its fuel and going out, creating a false impression of rapid recession and departure. The initial report of intermittent light also indicates a lantern near the end of its burn, with its flame flickering as fuel runs out. GEIPAN classifies the case A: observation of sky lanterns.