Pujaux 2013, mysterious yellow flash in the Gard

Summary

On October 11, 2013, around 10:00 PM, several people in the Gard department of France observed a bright yellow flash in a cloudy sky. The phenomenon briefly shimmered before suddenly disappearing. Only one witness account was reported, limiting the available information. The GEIPAN, France's organization responsible for investigating UFO sightings, considered several possible explanations. It ruled out stars or planets due to the thick cloud cover and the absence of bright celestial bodies in the direction indicated. Solar reflections on geostationary satellites were also dismissed, as they did not match the time or weather conditions. Airport landing lights and Tibetan lanterns were considered, but could not be confirmed. Ultimately, the case was classified as "C," meaning unremarkable due to a lack of conclusive data.

Although the phenomenon was brief and no physical effects were reported, its unusual nature and the inability to identify it precisely make it an intriguing case. The GEIPAN report highlights the difficulty of obtaining a clear explanation when there are few witnesses and limited data. In this case, the absence of confirmed civilian or military flights in the area, combined with adverse weather conditions, prevents any hypothesis from being ruled out with certainty. Despite all this, the GEIPAN concludes that there are not enough elements to consider it a significant case.