MAULDE (59) 05.01.2026

On 5 January 2026 in Maulde, Nord, a witness observed lights from home between 03:12 and 03:45 UTC, or 04:12–04:45 local time, for approximately 33 minutes. The home was in open rural surroundings. Through an open window, the witness watched first with the naked eye and then through Leica 8×56 binoculars, recording 5 videos with an iPhone 13 held behind the binoculars. Another witness was present but declined to complete a GEIPAN questionnaire. The original videos were supplied and analysed, allowing direct examination of the phenomenon and providing good evidential support. The source publishes the 2 clearest videos. The main witness found the phenomenon strange because, despite researching it, he could not identify it. The account and videos show successive lights appearing to the east, at azimuths approximately 80°–90°, with a maximum estimated elevation of about 20°. They were mainly orange points with varying brightness, appearing to move slowly and steadily, chiefly vertically downwards; some seemed to cross one another. The witness estimated the region involved as 10°–20° in apparent diameter. No sound was heard. An attempt to observe with thermal binoculars detected no thermal signature. Video analysis revealed 2 distinct paths: a pronounced diagonal descent to the left and a very slight diagonal descent to the right. The reconstruction annex gives approximate directions of south-southwest/southwest towards north-northeast/northeast, and west to east, respectively. GEIPAN considered their identical appearance to indicate the same type of phenomenon. It first considered Starlink flares, reflections of sunlight from satellites, stating that the eastern direction and azimuth corresponded to the Sun below the horizon. However, it found the flare durations and excessive elevation of first appearance strongly inconsistent with that hypothesis. The more plausible hypothesis was sky lanterns, supported by: - A point-like or spherical shape depending on distance. - Orange colour and strong brightness consistent with the camera's high sensitivity. - Flickering consistent with a flame exposed to small local air currents through a lantern's open base. - A total of 13 UAPs identified in the video, consistent with a group release. - Straight, steady paths consistent with windborne objects. - Individual visibility of 9–41 seconds, compatible with lantern lifetimes of up to 10–15 minutes. - Some lights disappearing on video, interpreted as flames going out when fuel was exhausted. The 2 different paths remained the main unusual feature. GEIPAN stated that weather analysis, particularly Météo-France's AROME model data, showed both paths aligned with winds varying by altitude. The source then describes winds directed towards the south-southwest from near ground level to about 100 m, carrying low lanterns that way, and towards the west-southwest/west at approximately 750–1,000 m, carrying higher lanterns in that direction. Those stated directions conflict with the earlier northeastward and eastward reconstructed paths; the source's descriptions are retained rather than reconciled. GEIPAN concluded that the orange colour, point-like or spherical shapes, flickering, numerous lights, individual durations, silence, slow steady straight movement attributed to the wind, absence of a thermal signature and videos matching the witness's account all converged on sky lanterns released regularly in succession and carried by the wind. It classified the case A: observation of sky lanterns. Under GEIPAN's criteria, evidential support is the amount of information collected for an account that is considered reliable and objectively established.