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Sighting in Belfort, May 4, 1981

Territoire de Belfort, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France

Sighting on May 4, 1981 in Belfort (Territoire de Belfort, France). GEIPAN identified the phenomenon with certainty (class A).

What happened

Between 8 and 11 p.m., many witnesses, military personnel among them, noticed orange-colored luminous phenomena in the sky. The lights appeared in the direction of Switzerland.

The investigation established that military exercises had taken place that evening close to the Swiss border. The lights seen were flares, most likely fired during those exercises. GEIPAN therefore classified the case as A, meaning the phenomenon was identified.

Account rewritten by SkyUnknown from the investigation report published by GEIPAN (CNES). The original text and case documents are on the official record.

Date
May 4, 1981
Location
Belfort · town centre
Type of sighting
From the ground
Source classification
A

Sources

Summary written by SkyUnknown from the facts published by the source.