French Air Force Jets Collide Mid-Air During Stunt Rehearsal(VIDEO)

 

Two French Air Force Alpha Jets from the prestigious Patrouille de France aerobatic team collided mid-air during a training drill on Tuesday afternoon, March 25, near Air Base 113 in Saint-Dizier, eastern France.

The incident occurred as six jets were performing a synchronized maneuver, releasing smoke trails when two aircraft made contact mid-air. Terrifying footage captured the moment of impact before both jets plummeted to the ground, resulting in their complete destruction.

French Air and Space Force officials confirmed that both pilots and a passenger managed to eject safely before impact. They were found conscious at the crash site, though two individuals sustained moderate injuries and were transported to a local hospital. A third, suffering from multiple trauma injuries, is receiving treatment from military medical personnel.

Sébastien Lecornu, France’s Minister of the Armed Forces, acknowledged the incident in a statement on X, assuring the public that emergency services had been swiftly deployed. "Coordination is being ensured by the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of the Armed Forces," he stated.

One of the downed aircraft struck a silo at the Calin concrete company near the airbase, igniting a fire. The second jet reportedly crashed into a nearby canal. Firefighters are actively working to extinguish the blaze, while police and paramedics remain on-site. Fortunately, no civilian casualties have been reported.

Authorities have activated the Sater Plan, a specialized search and rescue protocol for civil and military aircraft incidents. An Air Force helicopter has been dispatched to scan the area for debris.

A witness who had been watching the aerobatic drill for about 15 minutes recounted hearing a "loud bang" before feeling the ground vibrate.

"We looked up, and debris was falling from the sky," the witness told Puissance Télévision. "The pilot landed about 50 meters from our compound and was immediately taken away on a stretcher by firefighters."

Saint-Dizier Mayor Quentin Brière visited the crash site and urged residents to remain calm, commending the professionalism of the pilots for "avoiding civilian casualties through their quick decision-making."

Investigations are now underway to determine the cause of the mid-air collision, with aviation experts analyzing flight data and pilot reports.