Before the crash, two pilots and a passenger successfully ejected.
During a rehearsal in France, two military jets from a well-known aerobatic team collided, plummeted to the ground, and burst into flames, as shown in video footage.
The French Air and Space Force announced on X that three individuals—two pilots and a passenger—ejected before the crash and were “found conscious.” The incident occurred near an airbase in Saint-Dizier, eastern France, on Tuesday afternoon. The team, Patrouille de France, was performing a training exercise with six Alpha Jets, which is the precision aerobatics team of the French Air Force.
Witnesses captured footage showing the jets colliding midair while performing a stunt and emitting smoke trails. As crew members ejected and deployed their parachutes, the aircraft spiraled downwards. Shortly after, the jets crashed, resulting in a large fire.
🇫🇷 Nouvelle vidéo de l’accident aérien de la Patrouille de France
L’agence France-Presse a publié une vidéo du crash de l’avion Alpha Jet de la Patrouille de France.
Plus tôt dans la journée, deux avions du groupe sont entrés en collision alors qu’ils effectuaient des…
— Grelet J-Christophe (@JCGRELET)
French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu acknowledged the event on X, stating that emergency services were promptly dispatched to the location.
He wrote, “Slightly injured, they were taken into care,” also adding, “Thanks to the emergency services mobilized, thoughts for our pilots of the Patrouille de France.”
According to Le Parisien, Saint-Dizier Mayor Quentin Briere reported that one jet crashed into a grain silo, triggering an explosion, while the other crashed on farmland. There were no reported injuries on the ground.
Crash de deux Alpha Jet de la Patrouille de France à Saint-Dizier 💥 .
— Ivs (@Ivs125034)
Le Figaro reports that two individuals were sent to a nearby hospital and described as in a condition of “relative emergency.” The third person, who sustained multiple injuries, is reportedly getting medical care from the army.
French authorities stated that the cause of the collision was not immediately known.
The Alpha Jet, created in the 1970s by France’s Dassault Aviation and Germany’s Dornier, is a two-seat light attack and advanced trainer aircraft. It is mainly used for aerobatic displays and pilot training.