Sighting in Paris, December 9, 2020

During a night flight between Paris and Bogotá, a pilot and their colleague saw a white light move quickly across the sky on three separate occasions. It was oblong, which they compared to a grain of rice. Its brightness reminded them of a maritime navigation lighthouse when its beam sweeps across an observer at night. The sighting lasted 15 to 20 seconds in total, and no trail was noticed.

What made the case unusual was the very high angular speed of the phenomenon and the flashes, whose onset and fading were sharp and very intense. This did not seem consistent with sunlight reflecting off a satellite. The two direct witnesses, who were not independent of each other, were used to observing atmospheric re-entries, high-altitude aircraft and satellite passes. However, only one account could be collected. There is no photo or video.

No known phenomenon explains the sighting, but the strangeness was judged to be low. Radar data for the area could not be obtained, although it might have supported the aircraft hypothesis. Without the second account and without further information, the GEIPAN classified the case as C, for lack of reliable data.