Sighting in Romainville, December 9, 2013

At 17:15, under a clear sky, a witness saw two compact, bright red balls of light go by, soon followed by two more. They took several photos. The four balls moved like a squadron, then vanished as they climbed higher in the sky.

An analysis of the successive images shows the balls coming in from the left of the witness's field of view and then moving away, heading in the witness's direction. The witness was looking southwest, and the weather record shows a southwest wind. The idea that the objects were being carried by the wind therefore fits well, since all of them would be expected to follow the same path. These wind-borne glowing balls are reminiscent of Thai lanterns.

The timing is nonetheless surprising, as it was a weekday in the late afternoon. The investigation suggested an early Christmas or Saint Nicholas celebration involving children. GEIPAN did not try to trace whoever may have released them. The case was classified B: probable sighting of Thai lanterns.