An account in Morbihan, France

On July 31, 2013 at around 11 p.m., a family observes the silent movements of a pair of bright yellow-orange lights in the sky. The lights suddenly take a straight upward trajectory. The witness observes from a small village near the Quiberon peninsula, near the coast, but observes in a southeast to south direction, just above the entrance to the peninsula, on the Carnac side. The weather report indicates that day a south wind until 3 p.m., weakening, very variable until 11 p.m. (south then north), then northeast at 11 p.m., then settling toward the east after midnight. (Source: weather.) The time and place are very favorable for the release of Thai lanterns, often launched in groups. The wind recorded at Vannes matches the direction of movement of the observed phenomenon, which heads west while rising. Noted in the witness's line of sight is the Quiberon tourist airport. The phenomenon described by the witness could also correspond to an airplane seen head-on; but it would be very surprising if there were nighttime activity at this small tourist airport. Once the airplane's landing lights were turned off, the witness should have seen the airplane's blinking lights. The lantern hypothesis remains far more likely. The stationary phase of the phenomenon could correspond to movement toward the witness due to a very local breeze. The rapid rise of lanterns in the sky is normal, the decrease in brightness is often interpreted as moving away, the observation duration of a few minutes is usual for a lantern. Their trajectory at takeoff could have been masked by buildings or vegetation. GEIPAN classifies this case "B": probable observation of Thai lanterns.