Luminous object with trail seen by a pilot over New Caledonia

Summary

On 28 October 1994, the pilot of a Dornier 228 flying at 10,000 feet over New Caledonia reported an intense light with a long yellow-orange trail moving at great speed from west to east, crossing above his aircraft. The co-pilot confirmed the sighting, though he estimated a different duration — between 12 seconds and one minute. Two ground witnesses also saw a bright light for about ten seconds.

Although the area's air traffic was accounted for, no conventional explanation was found. The most plausible hypothesis points to the atmospheric entry of a natural object such as a bolide.