Sighting in Decazeville, May 21, 2008
Aveyron, Occitanie, France
Sighting on May 21, 2008 in Decazeville (Aveyron, France). According to GEIPAN, it was most probably an aircraft (plane, helicopter…) (class B).
What happened
Between about 11:30 pm and 12:20 am, a witness noticed a luminous phenomenon moving across the sky. Curious, they first watched it through binoculars and then filmed what they saw. According to the GEIPAN's conclusion, the observation consisted of successive points of light that varied in size and intensity.
The investigation relied on the video, which leaves little doubt: it shows an aircraft approaching, seen head-on, with all its lights on. The area is also likely to be used as a training zone for tactical transport aircraft. The GEIPAN therefore classified the case as B, a probable sighting of military aircraft on an exercise.
One reservation was noted, however. The stated duration of 50 minutes does not fit the sequence the witness described. Either they saw more than two aircraft passes, which remains consistent with the hypothesis, or they misjudged the total length of the observation.
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 21, 2008
- Location
- Decazeville · town centre
- Type of sighting
- From the ground
- Source classification
- B
- Explanation
- Aircraft
Sources
- See the original document
GEIPAN (CNES)
n° 2008-05-01954
Summary written by SkyUnknown from the facts published by the source.