Two French pilots missing as Rafale jets collide mid-air

By AFP
August 15, 2024
A French Rafale fighter jet demonstrates the interception of a Belgian Air Force transport plane as they fly over France, January 14, 2020. — Reuters

COLOMBEY-LES-BELLES, France: Two French Rafale jets collided in midair on Wednesday in a rare accident involving the cutting-edge military aircraft and authorities launched a desperate search for two crew.

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One pilot ejected following the crash over northeastern France, but an instructor and a student pilot on the second jet were missing.

The two supersonic jets were from the Saint-Dizier air base, an air force spokesman in Paris told AFP.

“One of the pilots was found safe and sound,” Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on the X social media platform.

“The search is still underway” after the crash, he added, thanking armed forces and police involved in the operation.

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