Sighting in Ammerschwihr, July 15, 2015

In the evening, at 10:37 pm, a witness in a car park noticed three very bright red lights arranged in a triangle, flying at low altitude. The object came out from behind a forest and moved toward the building where the witness lived. It then turned through an angle of about 45° and disappeared from view. The sighting lasted 10 to 15 seconds and made no noise. It is the only account that was collected.

The investigation compared these details with what a group release of Thai lanterns would look like. The red colour matches that of such lanterns, and the number is typical of a standard group release. The lights all moved together, carried by the wind in the direction of the prevailing wind, which could have created the impression of a single shape. Their moderate speed is consistent with objects subject to little or no wind, and the short duration fits the lifespan of lanterns. Facilities suited to launching lanterns are located nearby, in the direction of the sighting, but cannot be seen from where the witness stood. GEIPAN therefore classed the case as B, a probable sighting of Thai lanterns.