PIA (66) 11.07.2024

On 11 July 2024 at 23:30, T1 and his wife T2 watched a UAP from the rear garden of a holiday home in Pia (66). They described a triangle of three white luminous spheres, retaining its triangular arrangement while moving relatively fast. Near the end, two lights exchanged positions. After about 10 seconds, all went out. They could not explain it. The case has moderate evidential strength*. Several questionnaire details were changed, and there are no photographs or videos, but T1 answered every request, completed an apparent-size estimation exercise and supplied a sketch of the sequence. *Under GEIPAN's criteria, evidential strength is the amount of information collected for an account that is considered reliable and objectively substantiated. Several hypotheses were considered (see investigation report). Birds lit by urban lights and skytracers, described as laser projectors, were excluded because of reported brightness. An aircraft hypothesis was weakened by the witness's estimated actual UAP size at the distance of an aircraft identified on the CAPCODA map with a potentially matching track. Three festive lanterns are compatible and probable: multiple lights moving together, changes in relative position and sudden disappearance. A small local air current could explain their direction. A local celebration occurred that day, but no lantern release was confirmed. The source notes that, since 2008, lantern releases without prefectural authorization have been prohibited in Pyrénées-Orientales for drought, heatwave and fire-risk reasons. It considers this a reason people may be difficult to find who acknowledge releases. The case is classified B: probable observation of sky lanterns. CAPCODA is the French Air and Space Force's Air Operations and Air Defense Planning and Control Center.