Orange lights in the French sky in 2015

Summary

On November 29, 2015, a driver in Côte-d'Or, France, observed four orange lights moving silently in a straight line across the night sky. The lights appeared one after another, and the witness recorded the event with his phone. Although the report mistakenly lists the date as November 30, the investigation concluded that the lights were likely Thai lanterns. Their movement matched the wind direction, and their appearance was typical of such festive events, which are common on weekends. However, the witness provided limited information, as he did not specify the wind direction or his exact location. Fortunately, the video analysis suggested a likely movement from south to north, consistent with wind measurements from nearby stations. Despite the lack of detailed information, the GEIPAN classified the case as a probable observation of lanterns.

The B classification from GEIPAN means that while the case is not conclusive, the available evidence supports the most plausible explanation: the release of lanterns. The video, though of poor quality, helped confirm the direction of movement, reinforcing the hypothesis. However, the lack of witness details limited the case's consistency. These types of events, although often unexplained, usually have earthly explanations, especially when they align with natural patterns like wind. In this case, the match between the observation and meteorological conditions played a key role in the final evaluation.