White lights on the Saint-Maximin highway

Summary

In August 2004, a witness traveling in a car observed nine white lights that seemed to outline a large dark mass. The phenomenon moved in a straight line, and the witness, who had worked in the aviation industry, described it in detail. The position of the full moon suggested the observation occurred between August 26 and 29. Although the witness could not recall the exact date, the location matched a flight path near the Marignane airport, 50 km away.

GEIPAN considered the possibility of a low-flying aircraft preparing to land, with all lights on. However, the witness did not mention the flashing lights, which are common on such aircraft. Despite his aviation background, the report could not confirm this hypothesis due to the lack of precise data and the 10-year delay in reporting. The case was ultimately classified as "C" due to insufficient information.