Tournan-en-Brie 2010, Observation of orange lights

Summary

On June 5, 2010, around 11:55 PM, several witnesses in Tournan-en-Brie (France) reported seeing a column of orange spheres moving in the sky. Initially, the description of the lights raised some uncertainty, but after analyzing the only available testimony and the characteristics of the observation, GEIPAN investigators concluded that these were Thai lanterns. The town's communication service confirmed that a lantern release had taken place during a wedding in the town at midnight on the same day, which explained the presence of the orange lights in the sky.

The phenomenon, although initially intriguing, turned out to be a well-documented local cultural event. Known as "Thai lanterns," these are paper balloons released during celebrations and their luminous appearance and upward movement can be mistaken for unidentified flying objects. This case is an example of how everyday events, seen from certain perspectives, can generate UFO reports. The confirmation by local authorities closed the case satisfactorily, without the need for more exotic explanations.