V-shaped lights over Lyon

Summary

A citizen of Lyon observed several bright points forming a "V" shape in the early morning of July 28, 2016. The witness, opening his window, saw these white-yellow points moving quickly for a few seconds. Initially, he thought of birds lit from below, then of fighter jets, but noticed no sound. Eventually, the points faded into the night. Only one testimony was collected.

The GEIPAN concluded that the observation likely involved traditional Thai lanterns. These lanterns, rising in formation due to the same air current, can appear as bright points changing in size and fading as they extinguish. That night, the wind in Lyon came from the west, explaining the movement toward the east and north. Additionally, the proximity to a large river and the summer season favored lantern-related events. Therefore, the case was classified as B, meaning explained.