UFO seen near Istres in 2013

Summary

On January 17, 2013, a driver in the Bouches-du-Rhône region observed a rectangular object with green and red lights above the road. Around 5:30 AM, the woman slowed down and took a photo with her phone. Although there were no other witnesses, the investigation revealed that a military transport plane C17 had taken off from Istres base shortly before. These planes often have green reflectors on their wings or sides, which could explain the observation. However, some details of the testimony didn't fully align with this explanation, leading the GEIPAN to classify the case as "B," meaning likely explained, but with lingering doubts.

The B classification indicates that while there is a plausible explanation, the case cannot be fully closed with certainty. This is common in UFO investigations, where data is often limited or contradictory. In this case, the timing, location, and type of aircraft suggest a terrestrial explanation, but the description of the object and its behavior don't perfectly match. Thus, the case remains in a sort of limbo between the unexplained and the known.