Sighting in Miniac-Morvan, February 11, 2000

Shortly before 4 a.m., a motorist on the way to work suddenly saw an elongated object about 30 metres above the ground, shaped like an aircraft engine. It was surrounded by what looked like yellow flames and trailed a very long yellow streak that was not dazzling. The object moved slowly on a horizontal path and made no sound. The witness stopped and got out of the car, but the phenomenon had already vanished: they had in fact seen it only for the time it took to pass in front of the vehicle.

The investigation found no air traffic and no disturbance on the nearby power lines. The case was judged consistent, as the description was fairly precise, and the witness's sincerity and credibility were never questioned. What the witness saw is not in doubt; the issue is how they interpreted it, given night driving, astonishment and surprise at not seeing the shape of an aircraft. The SEPRA had classed the case D in 2000, and it was later reviewed. The phenomenon shares many characteristics (duration, shape, size, colour, movement) with a bolide. GEIPAN therefore classed it B: a probable sighting of a natural bolide, with low strangeness.