Two French fighter jets collided mid-air over northeastern France. The incident in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department involved two Rafale aircraft and occurred around midday on Wednesday.
Both aircraft belong to the squadron stationed at the Saint-Dizier-Robinson Air Base, the army has told the press, stressing that all three officers are French nationals and not foreigners.
The pilot of one jet was injured in the incident but is alive and conscious after safely ejecting.
The second aircraft had an instructor and a trainee aboard. Authorities launched a search-and-rescue operation; the location was cordoned off, and fire brigades were dispatched to the scene. Rescue workers discovered extensive debris from the incident, and later on Wednesday, President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that both missing airmen were dead.
”We learn with sadness of the deaths of Captain Sebastien Mabire and Lieutenant Matthis Laurens in an air accident during a Rafale training mission,” Macron posted on X, formerly Twitter. “The nation shares the grief of their families and brothers in arms.”
French authorities said it was not immediately clear what caused the collision. The military is expected to investigate and report on the incident. Earlier reports suggested that the lost aircraft might have been Mirage jets rather than Rafales.