Sighting in Feuquières-en-Vimeu, November 10, 2012

A single witness, out on their terrace at around 9:30 pm, saw a dark, triangular phenomenon cross the sky. Its three corners and its centre were marked by yellow-orange lights. It moved slowly and silently, then turned through a right angle and headed off due west at very high speed. The witness filled in a questionnaire, which the GEIPAN received in June 2015, almost three years after the event.

The investigation noted several consistent points: the colour of the lights matched that of lanterns; the behaviour was typical of objects drifting in little or no wind; the sighting lasted under a minute, in line with the burn time of such lanterns; the date, a Saturday evening, suited lantern releases held for celebrations; and the number of lights fitted a mass launch. The apparent acceleration and disappearance were explained by the lanterns going out, and the sharp turn by a possible horizontal wind shear. The GEIPAN therefore classified the case as B: probable sighting of Thai lanterns.