UFO sightings by place
UFO sightings in Ain: 25 reports
SkyUnknown lists 25 UFO sightings in Ain, from 1972 to 2025, drawn from official records: GEIPAN (CNES). The busiest year was 2014, with 3 cases.
Of the 25 cases with a conclusion from their source, 64% are explained (with certainty or probably), 32% lack the data to conclude, and 1 remains unidentified. The most frequent identified causes: sky lanterns (4); meteors and fireballs (2); planets (2).
Most frequently named places: Loyettes (2), Montluel (2), Ambérieu-en-Bugey (2), Lhuis (2), and Bourg-en-Bresse (2).
- cases
- 25
- unidentified
- 1
- period
- 1972–2025
- source
- 1
Notable cases
The most complete records: account of the sighting, conclusion of the official investigation.
- UnexplainedMay 14, 2022
Montluel
Ain, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
GEIPAN (CNES)
- Probably explainedMay 11, 2025
Saint-Genis-Pouilly
Ain, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
→ Balloons
GEIPAN (CNES)
- Probably explainedOctober 20, 2024
Villars-les-Dombes
Ain, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
→ Birds, insects, nature
GEIPAN (CNES)
- ExplainedAugust 20, 2022
Saint-Trivier-sur-Moignans
Ain, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
→ Satellites
GEIPAN (CNES)
- ExplainedMay 1, 2022
Balan
Ain, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
→ Planets
GEIPAN (CNES)
- Insufficient dataAugust 2, 2019
Loyettes
Ain, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
GEIPAN (CNES)
- ExplainedJune 18, 2019
Loyettes
Ain, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
→ Planets
GEIPAN (CNES)
- Insufficient dataApril 22, 2017
Ambérieu-en-Bugey
Ain, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
GEIPAN (CNES)
- ExplainedApril 14, 2016
Lagnieu
Ain, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
→ Other explanations
GEIPAN (CNES)
Other departments in the region
Identified causes
For cases explained with certainty or probably.
All sightings
| Date | Place | Status | Identified cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 11, 2025 | Saint-Genis-Pouilly · Ain | Probably explained | Balloons |
| October 20, 2024 | Villars-les-Dombes · Ain | Probably explained | Birds, insects, nature |
| August 20, 2022 | Saint-Trivier-sur-Moignans · Ain | Explained | Satellites |
| May 14, 2022 | Montluel · Ain | Unexplained | |
| May 1, 2022 | Balan · Ain | Explained | Planets |
| August 2, 2019 | Loyettes · Ain | Insufficient data | |
| June 18, 2019 | Loyettes · Ain | Explained | Planets |
| April 22, 2017 | Ambérieu-en-Bugey · Ain | Insufficient data | |
| April 14, 2016 | Lagnieu · Ain | Explained | Other explanations |
| June 20, 2015 | Vieu · Ain | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| November 2, 2014 | Matafelon-Granges · Ain | Insufficient data | |
| October 3, 2014 | Ambérieu-en-Bugey · Ain | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| March 18, 2014 | Bourg-en-Bresse · Ain | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| December 24, 2013 | Prévessin-Moëns · Ain | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| March 1, 2012 | Sainte-Julie · Ain | Probably explained | Meteors and fireballs |
| May 13, 2011 | Montmerle-sur-Saône · Ain | Insufficient data | |
| April 17, 2010 | Bourg-en-Bresse · Ain | Probably explained | Meteors and fireballs |
| November 10, 2009 | Montluel · Ain | Insufficient data | |
| October 2, 2007 | Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne · Ain | Probably explained | |
| August 11, 1999 | La Boisse · Ain | Insufficient data | |
| March 24, 1993 | Les Neyrolles · Ain | Explained | |
| November 22, 1981 | Lhuis · Ain | Explained | Stars |
| December 4, 1978 | Trévoux · Ain | Insufficient data | |
| October 6, 1978 | Lhuis · Ain | Probably explained | |
| December 13, 1972 | Hauteville-Lompnes · Ain | Insufficient data |
The figures on this page are computed from the official records cited on each case. See sources and method