What UFOs turn out to be
Fireworks and flares mistaken for UFOs
Flares, fired at sea or during military exercises, drift slowly down under parachutes while burning brightly, often in a series: seen from afar, they seem to hover in formation. Distant fireworks, without the sound, also leave puzzling lights.
The date (national holiday, New Year, announced exercise) and nearness to a coast or a military range are good clues.
SkyUnknown lists 12 UFO sightings explained as pyrotechnics (fireworks, flares…), from 1980 to 2020, drawn from official records: GEIPAN (CNES).
- cases
- 12
- unidentified
- 0
- period
- 1980–2020
- source
- 1
Notable cases
The most complete records: account of the sighting, conclusion of the official investigation.
- Probably explainedJanuary 9, 2020
Loiret
Centre-Val de Loire, France
→ Fireworks and flares
GEIPAN (CNES)
- Probably explainedJuly 2, 2019
Châteauneuf
Savoie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
→ Fireworks and flares
GEIPAN (CNES)
- ExplainedMay 25, 2018
Rupt-sur-Moselle
Vosges, Grand Est, France
→ Fireworks and flares
GEIPAN (CNES)
- Probably explainedAugust 5, 2014
Marseille
Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
→ Fireworks and flares
GEIPAN (CNES)
- Probably explainedNovember 28, 2013
Saint-Vigor-le-Grand
Calvados, Normandie, France
→ Fireworks and flares
GEIPAN (CNES)
- ExplainedDecember 12, 2012
Perpignan
Pyrénées-Orientales, Occitanie, France
→ Fireworks and flares
GEIPAN (CNES)
- ExplainedDecember 3, 2010
Haut-Rhin
Grand Est, France
→ Fireworks and flares
GEIPAN (CNES)
- Probably explainedJuly 15, 2009
Champigny-sur-Marne
Val-de-Marne, Île-de-France, France
→ Fireworks and flares
GEIPAN (CNES)
- ExplainedApril 10, 1997
Chambéry
Savoie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
→ Fireworks and flares
GEIPAN (CNES)
Other explanations
All sightings
| Date | Place | Status | Identified cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 9, 2020 | Loiret | Probably explained | Fireworks and flares |
| July 2, 2019 | Châteauneuf · Savoie | Probably explained | Fireworks and flares |
| May 25, 2018 | Rupt-sur-Moselle · Vosges | Explained | Fireworks and flares |
| August 5, 2014 | Marseille · Bouches-du-Rhône | Probably explained | Fireworks and flares |
| November 28, 2013 | Saint-Vigor-le-Grand · Calvados | Probably explained | Fireworks and flares |
| December 12, 2012 | Perpignan · Pyrénées-Orientales | Explained | Fireworks and flares |
| December 3, 2010 | Haut-Rhin | Explained | Fireworks and flares |
| July 15, 2009 | Champigny-sur-Marne · Val-de-Marne | Probably explained | Fireworks and flares |
| April 10, 1997 | Chambéry · Savoie | Explained | Fireworks and flares |
| August 19, 1990 | Lassay-les-Châteaux · Mayenne | Probably explained | Fireworks and flares |
| April 30, 1990 | Beaune-d'Allier · Allier | Probably explained | Fireworks and flares |
| May 26, 1980 | Charleville-Mézières · Ardennes | Explained | Fireworks and flares |
The figures on this page are computed from the official records cited on each case. See sources and method