On January 8, 1981, French farmer Renato Nicolai witnessed a saucer-shaped craft approximately 2.5 meters in diameter land in his field near Trans-en-Provence, France, remaining stationary for roughly 30 to 40 seconds before ascending rapidly.
On January 8, 1981, French farmer Renato Nicolai witnessed a saucer-shaped craft approximately 2.5 meters in diameter land in his field near Trans-en-Provence, France, remaining stationary for roughly 30 to 40 seconds before ascending rapidly. The incident is considered one of the most scientifically documented UFO cases, as the landing left a distinct circular ground trace with soil compaction suggesting a mass of around 1 ton, along with anomalous plant damage and elevated phosphate levels.
The French government agency GEPAN (now GEIPAN) investigated the site, collecting samples within 24 hours and ruling out conventional explanations like helicopters or vehicles. GEPAN classified the event as a Type D case, indicating an unidentified aerial phenomenon with confirmed physical traces, though they could not determine the object's origin or the exact mechanism behind the soil and biological anomalies. Critics have suggested the traces could result from agricultural machinery or environmental factors like drought, but the case remains notable for its rigorous documentation and lack of a definitive prosaic explanation
| Date: | 1981-01-08 |
| Location: | Trans-en-Provence, Var, France |
| Country: | France |
| Category: | |
| Credibility: | High / Officially Documented |