UFO sightings by place
UFO sightings in Hauts-de-France: 237 reports
SkyUnknown lists 237 UFO sightings in Hauts-de-France, from 1952 to 2026, drawn from official records: GEIPAN (CNES). The busiest year was 2013, with 17 cases.
Of the 237 cases with a conclusion from their source, 60% are explained (with certainty or probably), 34% lack the data to conclude, and 14 remain unidentified. The most frequent identified causes: sky lanterns (35); ground lights and lasers (16); aircraft (14).
Most frequently named places: Lille (4), Calais (4), Valenciennes (4), Douai (3), and Arras (3).
- cases
- 237
- unidentified
- 14
- period
- 1952–2026
- source
- 1
Map of the cases
Notable cases
The most complete records: account of the sighting, conclusion of the official investigation.
- UnexplainedDecember 16, 2022
Hem
Nord, Hauts-de-France, France
GEIPAN (CNES)
- UnexplainedMarch 27, 2022
Douai
Nord, Hauts-de-France, France
GEIPAN (CNES)
- UnexplainedApril 24, 2014
Bornel
Oise, Hauts-de-France, France
GEIPAN (CNES)
- UnexplainedJune 17, 2012
Lambersart
Nord, Hauts-de-France, France
GEIPAN (CNES)
- UnexplainedApril 17, 2011
Ledringhem
Nord, Hauts-de-France, France
GEIPAN (CNES)
- UnexplainedJune 6, 1997
Lille
Nord, Hauts-de-France, France
GEIPAN (CNES)
- UnexplainedSeptember 26, 1990
Thiant
Nord, Hauts-de-France, France
GEIPAN (CNES)
- UnexplainedSeptember 8, 1990
Longuenesse
Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France, France
GEIPAN (CNES)
- UnexplainedDecember 16, 1988
Les Rues-des-Vignes
Nord, Hauts-de-France, France
GEIPAN (CNES)
By department
Other regions
Identified causes
For cases explained with certainty or probably.
The 200 most recent sightings (out of 237)
| Date | Place | Status | Identified cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 5, 2026 | Maulde · Nord | Explained | Sky lanterns |
| February 1, 2025 | Avesnes-les-Aubert · Nord | Explained | Reflections and photo artefacts |
| November 29, 2024 | Wambrechies · Nord | Insufficient data | |
| October 29, 2024 | Annoeullin · Nord | Explained | Balloons |
| September 7, 2024 | Sainghin-en-Weppes · Nord | Explained | Balloons |
| September 3, 2024 | Quiévy · Nord | Probably explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| September 2, 2024 | Sallaumines · Pas-de-Calais | Probably explained | Birds, insects, nature |
| April 6, 2024 | Valenciennes · Nord | Explained | Sky lanterns |
| November 19, 2023 | Onnaing · Nord | Explained | Reflections and photo artefacts |
| September 16, 2023 | Quesnoy-le-Montant · Somme | Explained | Planets |
| August 10, 2023 | Sacy-le-Petit · Oise | Probably explained | Meteors and fireballs |
| May 31, 2023 | Anor · Nord | Explained | Satellites |
| February 26, 2023 | Le Plessis-Belleville · Oise | Explained | Sky lanterns |
| December 16, 2022 | Hem · Nord | Unexplained | |
| June 15, 2022 | Bailleul · Nord | Explained | Balloons |
| March 27, 2022 | Douai · Nord | Unexplained | |
| March 19, 2022 | Thourotte · Oise | Insufficient data | |
| March 4, 2022 | Saultain · Nord | Explained | Satellites |
| January 1, 2022 | Lezennes · Nord | Probably explained | Birds, insects, nature |
| November 26, 2021 | Villeneuve-d'Ascq · Nord | Explained | Stars |
| October 17, 2021 | Warlus · Pas-de-Calais | Explained | Balloons |
| June 6, 2021 | Gondecourt · Nord | Explained | Balloons |
| June 5, 2021 | Creil · Oise | Explained | Balloons |
| May 20, 2021 | Laon · Aisne | Probably explained | Birds, insects, nature |
| May 20, 2020 | Chartèves · Aisne | Probably explained | Stars |
| April 13, 2020 | Bruay-la-Buissière · Pas-de-Calais | Explained | Re-entries |
| April 5, 2020 | Hasnon · Nord | Probably explained | Aircraft |
| January 11, 2020 | La Madeleine · Nord | Explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| August 8, 2019 | Landouzy-la-Ville · Aisne | Explained | Stars |
| July 23, 2019 | Fort-Mardyck · Nord | Probably explained | Space station (ISS) |
| July 14, 2019 | Billy-Montigny · Pas-de-Calais | Probably explained | Balloons |
| September 20, 2018 | Angicourt · Oise | Probably explained | Aircraft |
| February 25, 2018 | Marly · Nord | Explained | Planets |
| January 5, 2018 | Contay · Somme | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| July 8, 2017 | Wahagnies · Nord | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| June 11, 2017 | Wervicq-Sud · Nord | Insufficient data | |
| December 3, 2016 | Thun-Saint-Amand · Nord | Explained | Aircraft |
| October 31, 2016 | Outreau · Pas-de-Calais | Probably explained | Aircraft |
| October 5, 2016 | Camphin-en-Carembault · Nord | Explained | Birds, insects, nature |
| September 29, 2016 | Cauffry · Oise | Probably explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| September 29, 2016 | Rantigny · Oise | Probably explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| August 26, 2016 | Ham · Somme | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| August 13, 2016 | Coudekerque-Branche · Nord | Probably explained | Birds, insects, nature |
| August 6, 2016 | Amiens · Somme | Insufficient data | |
| May 15, 2016 | Liévin · Pas-de-Calais | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| January 1, 2016 | Bailleul · Nord | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| December 27, 2015 | Wavrechain-sous-Denain · Nord | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| November 27, 2015 | Noeux-les-Mines · Pas-de-Calais | Insufficient data | |
| September 26, 2015 | Rivecourt · Oise | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| August 6, 2015 | Condé-sur-Aisne · Aisne | Insufficient data | |
| July 19, 2015 | Viels-Maisons · Aisne | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| July 16, 2015 | Péronne · Somme | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| May 31, 2015 | Silly-le-Long · Oise | Explained | Aircraft |
| April 18, 2015 | Liancourt · Oise | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| March 5, 2015 | Sainghin-en-Mélantois · Nord | Explained | Aircraft |
| February 21, 2015 | Lille · Nord | Insufficient data | |
| December 31, 2014 | Bully-les-Mines · Pas-de-Calais | Insufficient data | |
| December 30, 2014 | Ver-sur-Launette · Oise | Insufficient data | |
| December 11, 2014 | Ivry-le-Temple · Oise | Insufficient data | |
| November 10, 2014 | Sainte-Catherine · Pas-de-Calais | Explained | Stars |
| June 1, 2014 | Fère-en-Tardenois · Aisne | Probably explained | Meteors and fireballs |
| April 24, 2014 | Bornel · Oise | Unexplained | |
| April 16, 2014 | Ully-Saint-Georges · Oise | Probably explained | Aircraft |
| February 22, 2014 | Marquette-lez-Lille · Nord | Explained | Space station (ISS) |
| February 2, 2014 | Douai · Nord | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| January 19, 2014 | Wasquehal · Nord | Insufficient data | |
| January 3, 2014 | Solre-le-Château · Nord | Probably explained | Aircraft |
| October 22, 2013 | Ailly-sur-Noye · Somme | Probably explained | Aircraft |
| October 9, 2013 | Allonne · Oise | Probably explained | Balloons |
| September 24, 2013 | Gouvieux · Oise | Insufficient data | |
| September 4, 2013 | Villotran · Oise | Insufficient data | |
| August 9, 2013 | Compiègne · Oise | Insufficient data | |
| August 2, 2013 | Wavrin · Nord | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| July 26, 2013 | Caudry · Nord | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| July 24, 2013 | Bachant · Nord | Probably explained | Meteors and fireballs |
| July 20, 2013 | Gauchy · Aisne | Insufficient data | |
| July 7, 2013 | Baulne-en-Brie · Aisne | Insufficient data | |
| June 3, 2013 | Assevillers · Somme | Probably explained | Space station (ISS) |
| June 2, 2013 | Béthune · Pas-de-Calais | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| June 1, 2013 | Loon-Plage · Nord | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| March 31, 2013 | Herrin · Nord | Insufficient data | |
| February 17, 2013 | Curgies · Nord | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| February 17, 2013 | Ham · Somme | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| February 3, 2013 | Halluin · Nord | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| November 10, 2012 | Feuquières-en-Vimeu · Somme | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| October 9, 2012 | Lieu-Saint-Amand · Nord | Insufficient data | |
| September 24, 2012 | Avion · Pas-de-Calais | Explained | |
| July 14, 2012 | Lachelle · Oise | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| July 3, 2012 | Lachelle · Oise | Insufficient data | |
| June 17, 2012 | Lambersart · Nord | Unexplained | |
| June 17, 2012 | Souchez · Pas-de-Calais | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| May 12, 2012 | Saint-Just-en-Chaussée · Oise | Probably explained | |
| April 2, 2012 | Villers-sous-Saint-Leu · Oise | Explained | Planets |
| March 31, 2012 | La Madeleine · Nord | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| February 18, 2012 | Bonnières · Oise | Probably explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| January 14, 2012 | Saint-Quentin · Aisne | Insufficient data | |
| December 10, 2011 | Froissy · Oise | Insufficient data | |
| September 25, 2011 | Arras · Pas-de-Calais | Insufficient data | |
| July 23, 2011 | Pierrefonds · Oise | Explained | Sky lanterns |
| July 14, 2011 | Valenciennes · Nord | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| July 2, 2011 | Bergues · Nord | Explained | Sky lanterns |
| June 30, 2011 | Venizel · Aisne | Probably explained | Aircraft |
| June 24, 2011 | Valenciennes · Nord | Insufficient data | |
| May 21, 2011 | Lille · Nord | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| April 21, 2011 | Coudekerque · Nord | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| April 17, 2011 | Ledringhem · Nord | Unexplained | |
| April 17, 2011 | Richebourg · Pas-de-Calais | Insufficient data | |
| October 7, 2010 | Berck · Pas-de-Calais | Insufficient data | |
| August 24, 2010 | Bailleval · Oise | Explained | Planets |
| August 22, 2010 | Vendin-lès-Béthune · Pas-de-Calais | Explained | Sky lanterns |
| July 20, 2010 | Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise · Pas-de-Calais | Probably explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| July 11, 2010 | Bertangles · Somme | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| July 4, 2010 | Fort-Mahon-Plage · Somme | Insufficient data | |
| June 12, 2010 | Calais · Pas-de-Calais | Probably explained | |
| May 31, 2010 | Maresches · Nord | Insufficient data | |
| December 25, 2009 | Rumegies · Nord | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| December 3, 2009 | Péroy-les-Gombries · Oise | Probably explained | Meteors and fireballs |
| November 19, 2009 | Buironfosse · Aisne | Explained | Space station (ISS) |
| November 19, 2009 | Naves · Nord | Insufficient data | |
| November 15, 2009 | Jeantes · Aisne | Probably explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| November 15, 2009 | Saint-Michel · Aisne | Probably explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| August 23, 2009 | Jussy · Aisne | Insufficient data | |
| August 15, 2009 | Troissereux · Oise | Explained | Meteors and fireballs |
| July 14, 2009 | Chauny · Aisne | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| July 14, 2009 | Puisieux · Pas-de-Calais | Insufficient data | |
| July 4, 2009 | Hautmont · Nord | Insufficient data | |
| June 30, 2009 | Compiègne · Oise | Insufficient data | |
| May 19, 2009 | Cuffies · Aisne | Insufficient data | |
| January 6, 2009 | Saint-Nicolas-Lez-Arras · Pas-de-Calais | Insufficient data | |
| January 6, 2009 | Thiant · Nord | Insufficient data | |
| September 20, 2008 | Gouvieux · Oise | Probably explained | Sky lanterns |
| August 15, 2008 | Féchain · Nord | Probably explained | Balloons |
| August 10, 2008 | Préseau · Nord | Explained | Planets |
| March 31, 2008 | Merville · Nord | Probably explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| October 1, 2007 | Lille · Nord | Explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| September 2, 2007 | Tatinghem · Pas-de-Calais | Probably explained | Birds, insects, nature |
| August 23, 2007 | Roubaix · Nord | Probably explained | Balloons |
| September 26, 2006 | Landrecies · Nord | Explained | Aircraft |
| August 15, 2004 | Tourcoing · Nord | Insufficient data | |
| July 2003 | Chéreng · Nord | Insufficient data | |
| February 14, 2003 | Bissezeele · Nord | Insufficient data | |
| December 9, 2002 | Marck · Pas-de-Calais | Probably explained | Aircraft |
| September 2002 | Cambrai · Nord | Probably explained | |
| March 31, 2001 | Douai · Nord | Probably explained | |
| October 1, 2000 | Bacouël · Oise | Probably explained | |
| July 29, 2000 | Montcornet · Aisne | Explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| June 18, 1998 | Seclin · Nord | Insufficient data | |
| January 6, 1998 | Montataire · Oise | Insufficient data | |
| October 22, 1997 | Bissezeele · Nord | Probably explained | Weather and storms |
| June 6, 1997 | Lille · Nord | Unexplained | |
| November 24, 1996 | Canly · Oise | Explained | |
| November 5, 1996 | Marchiennes · Nord | Insufficient data | |
| March 27, 1996 | Allery · Somme | Insufficient data | |
| 1996 | Ressons-sur-Matz · Oise | Insufficient data | |
| November 18, 1995 | Abbeville · Somme | Explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| September 4, 1995 | Mouvaux · Nord | Insufficient data | |
| July 1, 1995 | Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise · Pas-de-Calais | Insufficient data | |
| July 1994 | Viefvillers · Oise | Insufficient data | |
| January 10, 1994 | Hautbourdin · Nord | Probably explained | |
| October 30, 1993 | Douvrin · Pas-de-Calais | Insufficient data | |
| September 5, 1993 | Poulainville · Somme | Insufficient data | |
| September 4, 1993 | Le Portel · Pas-de-Calais | Explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| July 18, 1993 | Beuvraignes · Somme | Probably explained | |
| June 17, 1993 | Fleurines · Oise | Explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| September 26, 1990 | Thiant · Nord | Unexplained | |
| September 8, 1990 | Longuenesse · Pas-de-Calais | Unexplained | |
| July 17, 1990 | Pas-de-Calais | Probably explained | Aircraft |
| July 1990 | Villers-Saint-Genest · Oise | Insufficient data | |
| May 26, 1990 | Ribécourt-Dreslincourt · Oise | Explained | |
| April 19, 1990 | Calais · Pas-de-Calais | Insufficient data | |
| December 16, 1988 | Les Rues-des-Vignes · Nord | Unexplained | |
| June 28, 1988 | Hulluch · Pas-de-Calais | Probably explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| February 5, 1988 | Calais · Pas-de-Calais | Insufficient data | |
| December 8, 1987 | Tourcoing · Nord | Insufficient data | |
| September 29, 1987 | Arras · Pas-de-Calais | Probably explained | Re-entries |
| November 12, 1986 | Vendin-le-Viel (62) Henin-Beaumont · Pas-de-Calais | Explained | Moon |
| August 1986 | Noyon · Oise | Insufficient data | |
| December 2, 1985 | Villers-Bocage · Somme | Probably explained | |
| June 26, 1985 | Mouchy-le-Châtel · Oise | Insufficient data | |
| February 14, 1985 | Tourcoing · Nord | Insufficient data | |
| September 28, 1984 | Comines · Nord | Explained | Moon |
| September 3, 1984 | Le Coudray-Saint-Germer · Oise | Explained | Moon |
| February 1, 1984 | Moreuil · Somme | Probably explained | |
| June 1982 | Vieille-Chapelle · Pas-de-Calais | Insufficient data | |
| April 12, 1982 | Beauvois-en-Cambrésis · Nord | Insufficient data | |
| April 4, 1982 | Thumeries · Nord | Insufficient data | |
| February 15, 1982 | Amiens · Somme | Insufficient data | |
| November 6, 1981 | Feignies · Nord | Explained | Ground lights and lasers |
| August 11, 1981 | Vacqueriette-Erquières · Pas-de-Calais | Insufficient data | |
| August 1, 1981 | Roubaix · Nord | Probably explained | |
| April 26, 1981 | Saint-Quentin · Aisne | Probably explained | |
| January 9, 1981 | Calais · Pas-de-Calais | Probably explained | Aircraft |
| December 24, 1980 | Bondues · Nord | Insufficient data | |
| October 5, 1980 | Wattrelos · Nord | Probably explained | |
| May 13, 1980 | Roye · Somme | Explained | Planets |
| May 8, 1980 | Flixecourt · Somme | Probably explained | |
| March 2, 1980 | Saint-Paul-aux-Bois · Aisne | Explained | Planets |
| January 16, 1980 | Bernaville · Somme | Probably explained | |
| January 5, 1980 | Oise | Explained | |
| January 3, 1980 | Neuilly-en-Thelle · Oise | Probably explained |
The figures on this page are computed from the official records cited on each case. See sources and method