Two French military jets collide midair during aerobatic rehearsal
French Air Force said that two Alpha Jets from the Patrouille de France collided during a seven-plane training flight. PHOTO: Outono.net
Two French military jets collided midair during an aerobatic rehearsal on Tuesday, crashing in flames near an air base in northeastern France.
Video footage of the dramatic incident near Saint-Dizier shows two Alpha Jets from the Patrouille de France (PAF) aerobatic team spiralling to the ground after colliding while performing synchronized manoeuvres. Three pilots and one passenger safely ejected and parachuted to the ground, the French Air and Space Force confirmed on social media.
The incident occurred at approximately 15:40 local time. The aircraft were part of a seven-plane formation conducting precision stunts when the collision occurred.
"At BA 113 in Saint-Dizier, two Alpha Jets from the Patrouille de France collided during a seven-plane training flight," stated the Air Force. "The three pilots, including one passenger, were able to eject in time and are safe. No casualties have been reported at this stage."
French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu said emergency services responded swiftly, providing medical care to the crew, who sustained minor injuries.
Saint-Dizier's mayor, Quentin Brière, said one jet crashed into a silo and the other in a nearby marshy wooded area, according to reports by AFP cited in Le Parisien.
The cause of the collision remains unclear.
The Alpha Jet is used primarily for pilot training and aerobatic displays. Patrouille de France, founded in 1953, is renowned for its precision flying, regularly performing at high-profile events such as Bastille Day celebrations.