Orange light in the sky of Willgottheim

Summary

One weekend night in Willgottheim, in the French region of Bas-Rhin, witnesses observed orange glowing objects crossing the sky following similar trajectories within a few minutes. Although this could initially seem like an unexplained or supernatural phenomenon, the GEIPAN investigators considered the possibility that these were Thai lanterns released during a private celebration. These lights, commonly used in festivals, leave a faint smoke trail as they rise, which could explain what was seen. Additionally, weather conditions indicated very light winds from the north and northeast, supporting the idea that the objects were being carried by the air.

However, witnesses reported two distinct types of movement. Only one of them was consistent with the recorded wind direction. The other movement could be explained by variations in wind patterns at different altitudes, although this remains speculative. Despite many characteristics of the case matching those of Thai lanterns, the complexity of the observed movements raises some doubts about their nature. Due to a lack of additional information and corroboration, the GEIPAN classified this case as "C", indicating that no definitive conclusion can be drawn.