GEIPAN Case 2022-05-51350 — MONTLUEL (01) 14.05.2022

Brief

From his apartment balcony in Montluel (Ain, 01), one witness observed an anthracite-grey rectangular object traverse the sky west to east in a straight line over approximately 8 seconds at 03:10 local time. The object carried no lights, no trail, and produced no sound; the witness described apparent deformation of nearby cloud edges as it passed, compared to lensing around black holes. Apparent angular size was roughly 20x40 mm at arm's length — the footprint of a wine cork held outstretched. GEIPAN, the only authority contacted, classified the case D (non identifié) after investigation.

Metadata

Agency

GEIPAN / CNES

Release

2007-03-22

Type

PDF • .pdf

Length

17 pages

Classification

D (non identifie — unidentified after investigation)

Programs

GEIPAN, SEPRA, GEPAN

Tags

rectangular, anthracite grey, silent, no lights, no trail, low altitude, nighttime 03:10, west-to-east, 8 seconds, cloud deformation, 2022, Montluel France, GEIPAN classification-D

Key points

• Single civilian witness, observed from apartment balcony, Montluel (Ain, 01), 14 May 2022 at approximately 03:10 local time.p.5
• Object described as rectangular, anthracite grey, with no lights, no halo, and no visible trail.p.7
• Apparent size measured approximately 20x40 mm at arm's length — equivalent to a wine cork held outstretched.p.7
• Phenomenon was completely silent; surrounding environment was also silent ('aucun bruit silence complet').p.6
• Trajectory was a straight, undeviating west-to-east line at low altitude; observation lasted approximately 8 seconds.p.9
• Observation ended when the phenomenon passed behind a hill ('le phénomène est passé derrière une colline').p.5
• Witness reported apparent deformation of cloud shapes as the object passed in front of them, likened to gravitational lensing around black holes.p.9
• The object covered 100% of the witness's field of view between two hills, estimated at approximately 10% of total sky.p.9
• GEIPAN was the first and only authority contacted; witness had not reported to gendarmerie, police, or any other body.p.16
• Witness attached a photograph taken 2 minutes after the event and a Photoshop-annotated sketch of the trajectory.p.16

Most interesting

• The witness compared the cloud-edge distortion around the object to gravitational lensing near black holes — an unusual and specific analogy for a civilian questionnaire response.
• Observation time was 03:10, well before civil twilight, under a clear sky with distant clouds, meaning the object was seen against a dark background without ambient light as a confound.
• No instrument was used — naked-eye observation only — yet the witness measured apparent angular size precisely by comparing it to a held cork at arm's length.
• The witness stated GEIPAN was the first and only authority contacted, bypassing the standard gendarmerie reporting channel entirely.
• Despite professing belief that science will explain the observation, the witness also reported a lasting epistemological disruption: prior skepticism 'challenged' and ongoing questions since the event.
• The 20x40 mm arm's-length estimate implies a 2:1 aspect ratio rectangle — the longer axis running along the direction of travel (west to east).
• The questionnaire version in use (V3-14/juin 2019) indicates the witness used GEIPAN's standard public reporting form, not a specialized military or gendarmerie instrument.
• Data retention notice states GEIPAN stores witness records for 99 years.