[AERO] DE AMSTERDAM (NL.1118) VERS NANTES (44) 17.11.2025

On a single technical questionnaire, a witness reported observations on 17 and 18 November 2025 during 2 commercial flights between Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Nantes (44). Numerous points of light were watched for a prolonged period. They seemed to move or fluctuate, their brightness varying from invisible to comparable with an airliner's landing light. Both observations ended when the aircraft descended into low cloud layers on approach to Nantes, blocking the view. GEIPAN finds the case only slightly unusual, with a very strong evidential basis and at least 4 witnesses. Under its criteria, evidential consistency means the amount of reliable, objectively supported information collected for an account. Its investigation identifies Starlink satellite flares; see the investigation report. As the summary specifies, these were brief solar illuminations of some operational satellites already in their assigned positions, under a particular viewing configuration. The short, straight tracks repeatedly occupying the same sky region, strong brightness changes and numerous occurrences fit this explanation. The phenomena were vertically aligned above the Sun's position, while the Sun was about 40° below the horizon. This matches the analysis in GEIPAN's article on sunlight illuminating Starlink satellites already in position, termed “satellite flaring.” GEIPAN classifies the case A: observation of Starlink satellite flares.