VALENCIENNES (59) 06.04.2024

On 6 April 2024 at about 21:14, a witness walking through Valenciennes saw 2 orange, round shapes at moderate altitude coming from the south. They moved silently and apparently rapidly toward him. He reported a dark halo around the first. Continuing northward, both gradually seemed to disintegrate or burn out as though running out of fuel. Only 1 account was collected. GEIPAN considers the evidential basis satisfactory because the account was detailed and accompanied by a video. Under its criteria, evidential consistency means the amount of reliable, objectively supported information collected for an account. The investigation identifies 2 sky lanterns; see the investigation report. Supporting features are their typical round shape and orange color, movement matching the wind, synchronized silent travel, and a possible halo corresponding to a lantern's envelope. The 2-minute observation is compatible with lanterns' average operating life of about 6–8 minutes. The witness described particularly well the final extinguishing as fuel ran out. The source also supports this interpretation by describing the observation as occurring on a Friday evening, when weekend celebrations make lantern releases more likely; it gives the date as 6 April 2024. GEIPAN classifies the case A: sky lanterns.