Two French Rafale fighter jets collided in eastern France, the pilots are missing.
Two French Rafale from 3/4 “Aquitaine” Transformation Squadron collided mid-air on Wednesday, August 14 in the middle of the day. The pilot of one of the two planes ejected before the impact. He was found and is safe.
A search is underway as an instructor and a student pilot who were in the second plane are still missing early this afternoon.
These were two Rafale fighter jets based in Saint-Dizier (Haute-Marne), France Télévisions learned from a military source. The accident occurred in the Colombey-les-Belles area, a town of the Vosges department.
The aircraft was back from refueling training in Germany.
UPDATE
French President Emmanuel Macron is confirming that the 2 pilots died during the accident.
Capitaine Sébastien Mabire (36yo) and lieutenant Matthis Laurens (29yo) died during the accident which occurred around 12h30 during a combat maneuver.
