Sighting of luminous objects in Madrid

Summary

On the early morning of March 31, 1993, several witnesses in Madrid and other parts of Spain reported sightings of luminous objects crossing the sky from northeast to southeast. Calls were made to various organizations, including security forces and observatories, who reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon. Despite the number of testimonies and the common description of the event, there was no radar detection or formal notification to the Air Force.

An investigation conducted by the SEPRA, a French organization specialized in aerospace phenomena, revealed that the observed phenomenon coincided with the reentry into the atmosphere of the third stage of a Russian rocket. This rocket had been launched the previous day to place the COSMOS 2238 satellite into orbit. The trajectory and timing of the reentry matched the testimonies, explaining the perception of a luminous moving object. Ultimately, the case was declassified and further investigation was deemed unnecessary due to the clear and natural explanation of the phenomenon.