Sighting in Évry, May 12, 2014

At 10:26 pm, a mother and her daughter noticed a bright, fire-orange mass of light moving across the night sky. They first thought of an aircraft or a hot-air balloon on fire. However, the phenomenon drifted calmly toward the northeast without losing altitude, then vanished behind trees. The sighting lasted one minute. A photo was attempted with a Nintendo DS console, without success. Only one witness account was collected.

The light came from the Corbeil and Mennecy area to the south and headed toward Étiolles and Tigery to the east, so its overall course was northeast. Météociel records showed a light wind from the west at 10 pm, shifting to the southwest by 11 pm, and heavy cloud cover (4 to 7 eighths). The object's movement therefore matched the local wind.

The colour, duration and way of moving are consistent with a Thai lantern, probably released by a private individual after a party or as a test. Two points are unusual for a lantern, though: the described shape, with orange rays, and the day of the week, a Monday. GEIPAN also considered an aircraft on approach to Orly, lining up with the runways from the west. Seen head-on, a plane looks like a large, fixed point of light, and its flashing lights are not strong enough to be seen in such conditions. The failed photograph is not surprising, as the console's camera is not sensitive enough for night shots. GEIPAN classified the case as B: probable Thai lantern.