A dark figure in Var, France

A witness reported to us in March 2015 an observation made around August 20 to 25, 2004, while he was a front passenger in a vehicle. At the level of the exit for Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume (83), the witness observed through the windshield the passage of nine white lights that seem to outline a dark mass of significant size. The trajectory is straight. Only one testimony was collected. Given the position and appearance of the Moon described by the witness (full Moon, to the right of the highway, high in the sky), this is an observation on August 26, 27, 28, or 29 (see sky charts). The appearance and behavior of the phenomenon described by the witness suggests a low-altitude aircraft, with all lights on, preparing to land. We note that the witness is observing very close to the aeronautical reference point OGREN (see map), which serves as a marker for the approach path of the Marignane airfield, located 50 km away. Aircraft at medium or low altitude, with all lights on, therefore pass very frequently through this location. The witness, focused on the landing lights, may not have noticed the flashing lights, which are less powerful. It is nonetheless surprising that the witness could have made such a mistake, having worked in the aeronautical field; but one does not have the same reference points and the same reflexes outside a professional context. This aircraft hypothesis cannot, however, be verified due to the uncertainty about the date and especially the delay of more than 10 years between the events and the testimony. GEIPAN classifies this case "C" due to lack of information.