An accident involving two military aircraft occurred on Wednesday in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in northeastern France, French media reported.
The regional prefecture said a rescue operation was launched involving the gendarmerie, the fire and rescue service and the forestry department.
Local media reported that there were three pilots on board the colliding fighter jets. One of them has been found, he ejected and is conscious. According to regional media, two Mirage aircraft were involved in the crash. The prefecture did not confirm this information.
“Military authorities will report on the causes of the crash,” the prefecture department said.
French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu later clarified that the crash involved Rafale fighters, not Mirage ones. He wrote on X:
“An accident involving two Rafales from the Rafale 3/4 ‘Aquitaine’ Transformation Squadron took place in Meurthe et Moselle.”
In addition, it became known that an instructor and his student were on board the second aircraft. They have not been found yet.
Local authority Préfet de Meurthe-et-Moselle also confirmed the crash, writing on X:
“Aircraft accident in the Colombey sector: the departmental operational center is activated in support of the armed forces to coordinate the search. Avoid the area and follow the instructions of the authorities.”
The sophisticated Rafales aircraft can carry up to three people on board, and is divided by a two-seated area and a single-seater.
