France: Two planes collide during exercise, pilots and passenger eject safely

(Patria) - French Air Force planes participating in air shows collided yesterday shortly before 4 PM in Saint-Dizier, in the east of the country, French media reported.

French Minister of Defence Sébastien Lecornu confirmed the accident on platform X.

"Today, an accident occurred involving two Alpha Jet aircraft during an exercise in the eastern part of France. Both pilots, as well as a third passenger in one of the planes, managed to eject and are safe.

Rescue services have been mobilized, and coordination is ensured between state services. The aircraft were at the BA 113 air base in Saint-Dizier this week for training," Lecornu wrote.

Les deux pilotes, ainsi qu’un troisième qui était passager à bord d’un des avions, ont pu s’éjecter et sont sains et saufs.

Légèrement blessés, ils ont été pris en charge.

Remerciements aux secours mobilisés, pensées pour nos pilotes de la Patrouille de France. https://t.co/lfvjPNnI3t

— Sébastien Lecornu (@SebLecornu) March 25, 2025

One of the witnesses, who was driving a car at the time of the accident, told France 3 that he saw the two planes touch.

"They were making colors in the sky. I saw one plane suddenly fall, and then I saw two parachutes - I don't know if they were from the same plane.

Then a piece of wing broke off, and the plane crashed into a factory. There were flames, smoke... I was shocked to see it.

I tried to approach to help, but the police and firefighters had set up a security perimeter," said the witness.