Sighting in Lezennes, January 1, 2022

Shortly after one in the morning, two people saw seven to nine white points of light in the sky, similar to stars. They moved quickly in a straight line, arranged in a "V" formation, from south-southwest to north-northeast. According to the witness, the formation stayed "perfect and coherent" for the roughly five seconds of the sighting, after which the lights were lost from view. Stars remained visible between the elements of the formation. The phenomenon made no sound. The witness put its elevation at 75°.

Only one of the two witnesses reported to the GEIPAN, and there is no photo or video, so the consistency of the account was rated as medium.

The investigation weighed two hypotheses. LED balloons would fit the pointlike appearance, the white color and the New Year period. However, a sustained "V" formation is unlikely, since such balloons drift apart with the wind once released. The hypothesis of birds flying in formation is supported by several points: the visible stars between the lights show they were separate sources; the white could be the underside plumage of some birds, lit by light pollution from the nearby Lille urban area; the very short sighting may have prevented the witness from making out wings; the elevation may have been overestimated; and a natural area rich in birdlife lies in the direction of travel. An expert opinion from the association Bretagne Vivante considered it likely that the birds had been disturbed by the festivities and were moving at night in formation between wintering sites, such as mallards or little egrets. The GEIPAN classified the case as B: probably birds flying in formation, though a lack of further information prevents greater certainty.