Sighting in Hourtin, January 29, 1979

One evening, between 8:30 and 8:45 pm, a witness noticed a flash followed by an orange point of light. At first it stayed motionless. It then began to sink slowly toward the ground, appearing to grow larger. After that it changed direction, shot off horizontally at very high speed and vanished. No sound was heard during the sighting, which lasted roughly two to three minutes.

The gendarmerie contacted the Florac observatory about the case, and the observatory suggested ball lightning as a possible explanation. However, GEIPAN does not have enough data to confirm or rule out that idea. The case is classified C (insufficient data). The conclusion describes a point of light at high altitude, with a change of direction and variable speed.