Chamonix 1978, Luminous object in the sky

Summary

On September 4, 1978, a group of people in Chamonix observed a luminous object in the sky. This spherical, white-colored object was moving at the speed of an airplane along a north-south trajectory between mountain peaks. After several minutes of observation, as another plane approached in the opposite direction, the object ascended vertically, changed color, and disappeared quickly. The gendarmerie investigation failed to gather additional information, but the sounds heard and the evasive maneuver—accompanied by the activation of standard identification lights—suggest that witnesses likely saw a military jet maneuvering.

Although no official UFO confirmation was made, witnesses described the event consistently. The object's reaction to the approaching plane, along with its color change and rapid disappearance, raised questions about its conventional nature. The GEIPAN classified the case as "B," indicating that while an unexplained phenomenon was not ruled out, a conventional explanation involving military maneuvers was favored.