Sighting in 42.67°, 9.60°, August 20, 2011
Corse-du-Sud, Corse, France
Sighting at sea on August 20, 2011 in 42.67°, 9.60° (Corse-du-Sud, France). According to GEIPAN, it was most probably an aircraft (plane, helicopter…) (class B).
What happened
Around 10 a.m., after a scuba dive, several witnesses noticed a luminous phenomenon hanging motionless in the sky. It stayed in view for about five minutes. It went out abruptly, then came back in a different shape, with a small light on its right. After that it vanished for good.
The GEIPAN investigation found that heavy air traffic was passing over the area that day. The witnesses were looking toward the sun. The explanation put forward is that they saw several aircraft pass one after another, each visible only while it reflected sunlight or while its landing light was pointed at them. The case is classified B: probable sighting of aircraft.
Account rewritten by SkyUnknown from the investigation report published by GEIPAN (CNES). The original text and case documents are on the official record.
- Date
- August 20, 2011
- Location
- 42.67°, 9.60° · town centre
- Type of sighting
- At sea
- Source classification
- B
- Explanation
- Aircraft
Sources
- See the original document
GEIPAN (CNES)
n° 2011-08-02820
Summary written by SkyUnknown from the facts published by the source.