Sighting in La Montagne, July 14, 2022

The witness, the only person to see the phenomenon, was on the terrace at home around 10:17 a.m. when they noticed an elongated object in the sky to the east. It was a very light, slightly off-white color. It moved silently in a straight line from north to south, at a fast and steady speed. The witness compared it to an egg with both ends shaped the same, or to a "tic-tac" candy. No trail or smoke was visible, and the object was lost from sight after about 15 seconds.

GEIPAN rated the consistency of the case as medium: there was a single witness, no photograph, and the account was given almost a year after the event. The investigation ruled out an aircraft, since no radar track matched the object's movement. The description does fit an elongated, light-colored balloon carried by the wind, with an apparent path in the same direction as the wind. Assuming a typical size for a party balloon (about 30 cm), the calculated distance and speed are consistent with the testimony. Without reference points in the sky, the real size, distance and speed of an unknown object cannot be estimated: a small object flying low at moderate speed can look large, fast and high.

The origin of the balloon could not be demonstrated, but all the evidence points to a white latex balloon drifting with the wind, possibly lost or released during a private celebration. GEIPAN classified the case as B: probable sighting of a festive balloon.