Sighting in Valenciennes, April 6, 2024

At around 9:14 p.m., the witness was out walking through the streets when they noticed two round, orange-colored shapes at a moderate altitude, coming from the south. The objects moved silently and fast, heading toward the witness. The witness described a dark halo around the first one. The two objects then gradually broke up as they continued north, as if they were burning out for lack of fuel. The sighting lasted about two minutes.

GEIPAN received only one account, along with a video the witness submitted. Its consistency was rated satisfactory because of the quality of the testimony and the precise details provided.

The hypothesis adopted was that the witness saw two sky lanterns. The round shape and orange color are typical of such objects. The wind was compatible with their apparent movement, which was synchronized and silent. The halo may have been the lantern's envelope. A two-minute sighting fits the average lifespan of a lantern, roughly 6 to 8 minutes. The witness described the final extinction perfectly. Finally, lanterns are mostly released at the end of the week, for celebrations. GEIPAN classified the case as A.