UFO sightings by place
UFO sightings in Grand Est: 331 reports
SkyUnknown lists 331 UFO sightings in Grand Est, from 1954 to 2026, drawn from official records: GEIPAN (CNES). The busiest year was 2013, with 23 cases.
Of the 331 cases with a conclusion from their source, 64% are explained (with certainty or probably), 32% lack the data to conclude, and 12 remain unidentified. The most frequent identified causes: sky lanterns (44); aircraft (32); ground lights and lasers (14).
Most frequently named places: Metz (13), Nancy (10), Reims (7), Strasbourg (5), and Hayange (5).
- cases
- 331
- unidentified
- 12
- period
- 1954–2026
- source
- 1
Map of the cases
Notable cases
The most complete records: account of the sighting, conclusion of the official investigation.
- UnexplainedJanuary 28, 2014
They-sous-Montfort
Vosges, Grand Est, France
GEIPAN (CNES)
- UnexplainedJuly 26, 2009
Rixheim
Haut-Rhin, Grand Est, France
GEIPAN (CNES)
- UnexplainedOctober 15, 2004
Nancy
Meurthe-et-Moselle, Grand Est, France
GEIPAN (CNES)
- UnexplainedOctober 30, 1994
Sélestat
Bas-Rhin, Grand Est, France
GEIPAN (CNES)
- UnexplainedAugust 7, 1993
Rémilly
Moselle, Grand Est, France
GEIPAN (CNES)
- UnexplainedNovember 12, 1992
Sapois
Vosges, Grand Est, France
GEIPAN (CNES)
- UnexplainedFebruary 27, 1990
Ars-sur-Moselle
Moselle, Grand Est, France
GEIPAN (CNES)
- UnexplainedMay 26, 1980
Huningue
Haut-Rhin, Grand Est, France
GEIPAN (CNES)
- UnexplainedDecember 3, 1979
Metz
Moselle, Grand Est, France
GEIPAN (CNES)
By department
Other regions
Identified causes
For cases explained with certainty or probably.
The 200 most recent sightings (out of 331)
| Date | Place | Status | Identified cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 3, 2026 | Saint-Dizier · Haute-Marne | Explained | Satellites |
| January 5, 2026 | Colmar · Haut-Rhin | Explained | Sky lanterns |
| October 31, 2025 | Brienne-sur-Aisne · Ardennes | Explained | Meteors and fireballs |
| October 12, 2025 | Bischwiller · Bas-Rhin | Probably explained | Balloons |
| September 17, 2025 | Marlenheim · Bas-Rhin | Explained | Aircraft |
| September 4, 2025 | Dommartin-lès-Toul · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Explained | Stars |
| August 30, 2025 | Metz · Moselle | Probably explained | Satellites |
| August 25, 2025 | Gueux · Marne | Explained | Re-entries |
| May 10, 2025 | Metz · Moselle | Probably explained | Balloons |
| March 6, 2025 | Vicq · Haute-Marne | Explained | Stars |
| March 2, 2025 | Vals-des-Tilles · Haute-Marne | Explained | Space station (ISS) |
| November 24, 2024 | Burnhaupt-le-Bas · Haut-Rhin | Explained | Aircraft |
| November 11, 2024 | Épernay · Marne | Probably explained | Drones |
| August 18, 2024 | Verny · Moselle | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| August 15, 2024 | Bartenheim · Haut-Rhin | Probably explained | Aircraft |
| August 15, 2024 | Mulhouse · Haut-Rhin | Probably explained | Drones |
| May 30, 2024 | Elsenheim · Bas-Rhin | Explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| March 18, 2023 | Rosheim · Bas-Rhin | Explained | Planets |
| November 8, 2022 | Les Petites-Loges · Marne | Explained | Meteors and fireballs |
| October 19, 2022 | Viviers-lès-Offroicourt · Vosges | Explained | Aircraft |
| August 12, 2022 | Wolfgantzen · Haut-Rhin | Explained | Aircraft |
| July 16, 2022 | Walscheid · Moselle | Explained | Space station (ISS) |
| April 10, 2022 | Laneuveville-devant-Nancy · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Explained | Aircraft |
| January 12, 2022 | Pont-à-Mousson · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Explained | Balloons |
| January 9, 2022 | Yutz · Moselle | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| November 9, 2021 | Sierentz · Haut-Rhin | Explained | Aircraft |
| September 1, 2021 | Nancy · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Explained | Meteors and fireballs |
| August 21, 2021 | Wintzenheim · Haut-Rhin | Explained | Aircraft |
| March 27, 2021 | Brugny-Vaudancourt · Marne | Explained | Satellites |
| March 24, 2021 | Thaon-les-Vosges · Vosges | Explained | Stars |
| February 21, 2021 | Strasbourg · Bas-Rhin | Explained | Balloons |
| December 19, 2020 | Batilly · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Explained | Meteors and fireballs |
| November 6, 2020 | Richecourt · Meuse | Explained | Weather and storms |
| July 20, 2020 | Metz · Moselle | Probably explained | Space station (ISS) |
| July 12, 2020 | Kanfen · Moselle | Explained | Aircraft |
| May 19, 2020 | Sundhoffen · Haut-Rhin | Probably explained | Aircraft |
| September 18, 2019 | Metz · Moselle | Insufficient data | |
| April 19, 2019 | Gresswiller · Bas-Rhin | Explained | Aircraft |
| February 24, 2019 | Semuy · Ardennes | Explained | Stars |
| February 16, 2019 | Chavanges · Aube | Explained | Stars |
| February 15, 2019 | Torpes (25) · Vosges | Explained | Balloons |
| February 3, 2019 | Les Baroches · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Explained | Birds, insects, nature |
| August 18, 2018 | Gérardmer · Vosges | Explained | Satellites |
| May 25, 2018 | Rupt-sur-Moselle · Vosges | Explained | Fireworks and flares |
| May 9, 2018 | Haguenau · Bas-Rhin | Explained | Aircraft |
| March 31, 2018 | Longeville-lès-Metz · Moselle | Explained | Aircraft |
| February 10, 2018 | Staffelfelden · Haut-Rhin | Probably explained | Meteors and fireballs |
| November 19, 2017 | Fouchy · Bas-Rhin | Explained | Reflections and photo artefacts |
| November 19, 2017 | Fouchy · Bas-Rhin | Explained | Reflections and photo artefacts |
| November 16, 2017 | Hayange · Moselle | Insufficient data | |
| October 14, 2017 | Baccarat · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Explained | Birds, insects, nature |
| October 3, 2017 | Croismare · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Insufficient data | |
| August 5, 2017 | Bussang · Vosges | Explained | Sky lanterns |
| February 24, 2017 | Fismes · Marne | Explained | Weather and storms |
| January 28, 2017 | Chauffour-lès-Bailly · Aube | Insufficient data | |
| October 2, 2016 | Troyes · Aube | Explained | Aircraft |
| August 17, 2016 | Peigney · Haute-Marne | Probably explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| August 9, 2016 | Wissembourg · Bas-Rhin | Probably explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| July 25, 2016 | Rambervillers · Vosges | Explained | Aircraft |
| June 26, 2016 | Luttenbach-près-Munster · Haut-Rhin | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| March 29, 2016 | Novy-Chevrières · Ardennes | Explained | Aircraft |
| December 18, 2015 | Mulhouse · Haut-Rhin | Probably explained | Drones |
| November 13, 2015 | Munster · Haut-Rhin | Explained | Aircraft |
| October 20, 2015 | Sauvigny · Meuse | Explained | Sky lanterns |
| September 26, 2015 | Haréville · Vosges | Probably explained | Balloons |
| September 11, 2015 | Morville-sur-Seille · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Insufficient data | |
| August 21, 2015 | Colmar · Haut-Rhin | Probably explained | |
| August 11, 2015 | Dombasle-sur-Meurthe · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Insufficient data | |
| August 5, 2015 | Darnieulles · Vosges | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| August 2, 2015 | Avolsheim · Bas-Rhin | Probably explained | Balloons |
| July 17, 2015 | Metz · Moselle | Insufficient data | |
| July 15, 2015 | Ammerschwihr · Haut-Rhin | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| July 15, 2015 | Romilly-sur-Seine · Aube | Insufficient data | |
| July 5, 2015 | Didenheim · Haut-Rhin | Probably explained | Aircraft |
| June 24, 2015 | Brunstatt · Haut-Rhin | Probably explained | Balloons |
| June 5, 2015 | Schiltigheim · Bas-Rhin | Explained | Balloons |
| May 10, 2015 | Petite-Rosselle · Moselle | Insufficient data | |
| May 7, 2015 | La Salle · Vosges | Explained | Aircraft |
| March 2015 | Metz · Moselle | Insufficient data | |
| February 22, 2015 | Haut-Rhin | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| February 11, 2015 | Guerting · Moselle | Explained | Space station (ISS) |
| January 2, 2015 | Troyes · Aube | Insufficient data | |
| December 25, 2014 | Fismes · Marne | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| December 25, 2014 | Mulhouse · Haut-Rhin | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| November 1, 2014 | Villiers-sous-Praslin · Aube | Insufficient data | |
| October 15, 2014 | Moselle | Probably explained | |
| August 10, 2014 | Épinonville · Meuse | Explained | Space station (ISS) |
| July 2, 2014 | Colmar · Haut-Rhin | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| July 1, 2014 | Sainte-Savine · Aube | Insufficient data | |
| June 25, 2014 | Willgottheim · Bas-Rhin | Insufficient data | |
| June 14, 2014 | Plobsheim · Bas-Rhin | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| June 7, 2014 | Handschuheim · Bas-Rhin | Probably explained | Space station (ISS) |
| March 19, 2014 | Pulnoy · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Probably explained | |
| January 28, 2014 | They-sous-Montfort · Vosges | Unexplained | |
| January 1, 2014 | Ostwald · Bas-Rhin | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| December 31, 2013 | Saint-Michel-sur-Meurthe · Vosges | Insufficient data | |
| December 29, 2013 | Steinbach · Haut-Rhin | Probably explained | Moon |
| December 27, 2013 | Xirocourt · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| October 22, 2013 | Munster · Haut-Rhin | Probably explained | Balloons |
| October 13, 2013 | Nancy · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Explained | Meteors and fireballs |
| October 7, 2013 | Niedersoultzbach · Bas-Rhin | Probably explained | Aircraft |
| October 3, 2013 | Montcheutin · Ardennes | Explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| October 2, 2013 | Walbach · Haut-Rhin | Explained | |
| October 1, 2013 | Schiltigheim · Bas-Rhin | Probably explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| September 8, 2013 | Plombières-les-Bains · Vosges | Explained | Sky lanterns |
| August 30, 2013 | Strasbourg · Bas-Rhin | Insufficient data | |
| August 21, 2013 | Metz · Moselle | Probably explained | |
| August 13, 2013 | Villerupt · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Explained | Satellites |
| August 5, 2013 | Metz · Moselle | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| August 1, 2013 | Metz · Moselle | Insufficient data | |
| July 28, 2013 | Cheveuges · Ardennes | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| July 27, 2013 | Réhon · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| July 20, 2013 | Soppe-le-Bas · Haut-Rhin | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| June 13, 2013 | Schiltigheim · Bas-Rhin | Probably explained | Space station (ISS) |
| June 6, 2013 | Saint-Max · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Explained | Space station (ISS) |
| March 9, 2013 | Riedisheim · Haut-Rhin | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| February 13, 2013 | Elements de Fusee — Regional · Bas-Rhin | Explained | Re-entries |
| January 7, 2013 | Triembach-au-Val · Bas-Rhin | Probably explained | Meteors and fireballs |
| September 16, 2012 | Gondrecourt-le-Château · Meuse | Insufficient data | |
| September 7, 2012 | Vertus · Marne | Probably explained | Aircraft |
| September 1, 2012 | Fresse-sur-Moselle · Vosges | Probably explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| August 20, 2012 | Attenschwiller · Haut-Rhin | Probably explained | Re-entries |
| July 7, 2012 | Niedermodern · Bas-Rhin | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| June 17, 2012 | Mancieulles · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Explained | Sky lanterns |
| June 4, 2012 | Peigney · Haute-Marne | Probably explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| May 30, 2012 | Sézanne · Marne | Insufficient data | |
| May 19, 2012 | Payns · Aube | Explained | Sky lanterns |
| April 30, 2012 | Griesheim-près-Molsheim · Bas-Rhin | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| April 29, 2012 | Moulins-lès-Metz · Moselle | Probably explained | Balloons |
| April 15, 2012 | Rixheim · Haut-Rhin | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| March 12, 2012 | Auenheim · Bas-Rhin | Insufficient data | |
| March 7, 2012 | Heiligenberg · Bas-Rhin | Explained | Aircraft |
| February 3, 2012 | Nancy · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Probably explained | Aircraft |
| January 1, 2012 | Dounoux · Vosges | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| November 12, 2011 | Florange · Moselle | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| October 1, 2011 | Maizières-lès-Metz · Moselle | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| September 10, 2011 | Saint-Brice-Courcelles · Marne | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| September 1, 2011 | Bar-le-Duc · Meuse | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| August 28, 2011 | Chardogne · Meuse | Insufficient data | |
| August 26, 2011 | Mareuil-le-Port · Marne | Insufficient data | |
| June 15, 2011 | Aiglemont · Ardennes | Probably explained | Space station (ISS) |
| June 12, 2011 | Wiwersheim · Bas-Rhin | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| April 14, 2011 | Reims · Marne | Probably explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| March 20, 2011 | Chardogne · Meuse | Explained | Stars |
| January 9, 2011 | Sedan · Ardennes | Insufficient data | |
| December 3, 2010 | Haut-Rhin | Explained | Fireworks and flares |
| November 16, 2010 | Essey-lès-Nancy · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Insufficient data | |
| November 1, 2010 | Mailly-le-Camp · Aube | Probably explained | Stars |
| September 1, 2010 | Commercy · Meuse | Insufficient data | |
| August 29, 2010 | Tenteling · Moselle | Explained | Sky lanterns |
| July 16, 2010 | Huttenheim · Bas-Rhin | Insufficient data | |
| May 21, 2010 | Nancy · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Explained | Planets |
| May 2, 2010 | Favières · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| April 10, 2010 | Rouffach · Haut-Rhin | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| March 31, 2010 | Fameck · Moselle | Insufficient data | |
| March 27, 2010 | Les Forges · Vosges | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| March 4, 2010 | Rosheim · Bas-Rhin | Probably explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| February 27, 2010 | Millery · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Explained | Optical phenomena |
| January 16, 2010 | Reichstett · Bas-Rhin | Probably explained | Aircraft |
| January 6, 2010 | Strasbourg · Bas-Rhin | Insufficient data | |
| November 19, 2009 | Dormans · Marne | Explained | Space station (ISS) |
| November 2009 | Mundolsheim · Bas-Rhin | Explained | |
| October 4, 2009 | Étoges · Marne | Probably explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| September 6, 2009 | Nancy · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Explained | Sky lanterns |
| August 28, 2009 | Azerailles · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| August 24, 2009 | Rangen · Bas-Rhin | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| August 21, 2009 | Sedan · Ardennes | Insufficient data | |
| August 8, 2009 | Raucourt-et-Flaba · Ardennes | Insufficient data | |
| August 5, 2009 | Audun-le-Tiche · Moselle | Probably explained | Planets |
| July 26, 2009 | Rixheim · Haut-Rhin | Unexplained | |
| July 20, 2009 | Vireux-Wallerand · Ardennes | Insufficient data | |
| July 5, 2009 | Plobsheim · Bas-Rhin | Explained | Sky lanterns |
| June 1, 2009 | Hurbache · Vosges | Probably explained | Aircraft |
| April 1, 2009 | Diebling · Moselle | Insufficient data | |
| March 30, 2009 | Eschbach · Bas-Rhin | Insufficient data | |
| March 22, 2009 | Hayange · Moselle | Insufficient data | |
| February 28, 2009 | Basse-Ham · Moselle | Probably explained | Re-entries |
| February 9, 2009 | Brienne-la-Vieille · Aube | Probably explained | Planets |
| February 5, 2009 | Brienne-le-Château · Aube | Explained | Planets |
| January 25, 2009 | Reims · Marne | Explained | Reflections and photo artefacts |
| January 1, 2009 | Strasbourg · Bas-Rhin | Insufficient data | |
| December 6, 2008 | Strasbourg · Bas-Rhin | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| November 12, 2008 | Carspach · Haut-Rhin | Explained | Meteors and fireballs |
| August 30, 2008 | Nouzonville · Ardennes | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| June 3, 2008 | Fameck · Moselle | Insufficient data | |
| June 2008 | Châlons-en-Champagne · Marne | Insufficient data | |
| May 31, 2008 | Laître-sous-Amance · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Insufficient data | |
| May 11, 2008 | Moselle | Probably explained | |
| May 10, 2008 | Dombasle-sur-Meurthe · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Insufficient data | |
| May 4, 2008 | Lacroix-sur-Meuse · Meuse | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| April 25, 2008 | Sedan · Ardennes | Insufficient data | |
| April 19, 2008 | Nancy · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| April 2008 | Vroncourt · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Insufficient data | |
| February 29, 2008 | Bogny-sur-Meuse · Ardennes | Probably explained | Aircraft |
| October 13, 2007 | Hayange · Moselle | Insufficient data | |
| September 26, 2007 | Moussy · Marne | Explained | |
| September 13, 2007 | Remiremont · Vosges | Probably explained | Satellites |
| August 15, 2007 | Charny-sur-Meuse · Meuse | Probably explained | |
| August 5, 2007 | Chambley-Bussières · Meurthe-et-Moselle | Explained | Balloons |
| July 25, 2007 | Hadol · Vosges | Explained | Reflections and photo artefacts |
The figures on this page are computed from the official records cited on each case. See sources and method