Sighting in Saint-Martin-de-Peille, July 20, 2015

Two people at home were intrigued by an object moving slowly across the sky. It carried several lights of different colors, and the drone of an engine could be heard. The object followed a straight path from north to south. The sighting lasted between 4 and 7 minutes. Only one report was sent to GEIPAN.

The investigation noted several points: the colors of the lights matched those of aircraft navigation lights, and their arrangement was consistent with the object's direction of travel and the witnesses' position. The witnesses also saw the beam of a searchlight, similar to those fitted on civil protection and Gendarmerie helicopters. The engine noise they heard was the same as that of an aircraft. GEIPAN therefore classified the case as B, a probable helicopter observation. Because the sighting showed little strangeness, GEIPAN did not make inquiries with the national gendarmerie or air traffic control.