Two French Rafale military jets collided mid-air over northeastern France on Wednesday, leading to a significant emergency response.
The collision, which occurred around 12:30 p.m. over the town of Colombey-les-Belles, involved two supersonic jets from the Saint-Dizier air base.
Immediately after the collision, one of the pilots managed to eject from the aircraft and was later found unharmed.
French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed this on the social media platform X, stating, “One of the pilots has been found, he’s safe and sound. Research is still ongoing.”
Rescue teams, including armed forces and police, launched a search operation to locate the other two missing individuals, an instructor and a flying student, who were on board the second jet.
French media reported that the authorities were particularly focused on finding the missing student pilot.
The cause of the collision has not yet been determined. Local officials, including the prefecture, have stated that military authorities will investigate and report on the accident’s causes.
Eyewitnesses, including Patrice Bonneaux, the deputy mayor of Colombey-les-Belles, described hearing a loud, percussive noise that was distinctly different from the usual sonic boom associated with fighter jets.
Historically, the Rafale jets have had few accidents. The first recorded crash occurred in December 2007 when a Rafale jet went down near Neuvic in southwestern France due to pilot disorientation. In September 2009, two Rafale jets crashed off the coast of Perpignan, resulting in the death of one pilot.
The Rafale is a highly advanced multi-role fighter jet capable of various missions, including reconnaissance, striking ground and sea targets, and carrying France’s nuclear warheads.
It has been a successful export for France, with sales to countries like Egypt, India, Greece, and Indonesia. France continues to invest in the Rafale, with an order for 42 new jets to be delivered by 2027.
This incident has raised concerns about the safety of military operations, even involving cutting-edge technology like the Rafale.
French authorities are expected to release further details once the investigation into the collision is complete.