A collision between two Rafale jets from the French military occurred midday Wednesday in the eastern part of the country. Authorities have initiated search operations for two missing pilots, according to departmental and military sources cited by the media.
“Two fighter jets from the Rafale transformation squadron at the Saint-Dizier airbase (east) collided with each other,” a spokesperson from the Air and Space Force in Paris informed the media.
The pilot of one jet ejected before the impact and is safe. However, the instructor and trainee pilot in the second jet were still missing as of early afternoon,” the same source added.
“We are still searching for the second crew,” they further stated.
The prefecture of Meurthe-et-Moselle, representing the state in the department, announced in a statement, “The departmental operational center was immediately activated, and the SATER (aeronautical and terrestrial rescue) plan was implemented to support military forces.”
“Search operations for the pilots have been launched,” specifically by the departmental gendarmerie group and the department’s fire and rescue service, the statement continued, noting that the accident occurred “in the area of Colombey-les-Belles.”
“The military authority will provide information on the causes of the accident,” the prefecture concluded.
