Orange lights over Loon-Plage in 2013

Summary

On June 1, 2013, several people in Loon-Plage (France) observed a dozen yellow-orange glowing spheres appearing one after another in the sky. Witnesses described bright, slow-moving objects resembling traditional Thai lanterns. Although the witness had never seen anything like this before, after comparing with photos and videos of such lanterns, he identified the phenomenon. It was speculated that the lanterns might have been launched during a nearby wedding. However, meteorological data did not fully match the observed movement direction. Despite this, coastal winds are often complex and vary with altitude. Given these elements, the GEIPAN classified the case as "B"—likely a sighting of Thai lanterns. Due to the low strangeness of the case, no field investigation was deemed necessary.