A devastating midair collision between two French Rafale jets has left one pilot safe, but a desperate search is ongoing for two crew members.
The incident occurred over northeastern France, with the jets originating from the Saint-Dizier air base.
France’s Defence Minister, Sebastien Lecornu, confirmed that one pilot ejected safely, but an instructor and student pilot on the second jet remain missing. “One of the pilots was found safe and sound. The search is still underway,” Lecornu said, thanking armed forces and police involved in the operation.
Patrice Bonneaux, deputy mayor of Colombey-les-Belles, described a loud, percussive sound at the time of the crash. “It was not the usual sonic boom of a fighter jet breaking the sound barrier… I assumed that two planes had collided, but we didn’t believe it.”
The cause of the collision is still unknown, with military authorities set to report on the accident. This incident marks a rare accident involving the cutting-edge Rafale jets, which have become a bestseller for the French arms industry.
In December 2007, a Rafale jet crashed in southwestern France due to pilot disorientation. In September 2009, two Rafale aircraft went down off the coast of Perpignan, resulting in one pilot fatality. France has sold the Rafale to several countries, including Egypt, India, and the United Arab Emirates.
