Two aircraft belonging to the French Patrouille de France aerobatic display team collided during a training exercise near Saint-Dizier air base on the afternoon of Mar. 25. The incident, involving two Alpha Jet aircraft, occurred at approximately 15:35 local time.
The French Air and Space Force reported that both pilots and a passenger were able to eject from the aircraft and were found to be conscious. The three individuals were described as suffering from multiple traumas due to the ejection and potentially the impact upon landing, according to Quentin Brière, the mayor of Saint-Dizier. Two of the three individuals were later discharged from hospital after checks, while the third was treated at the Saint-Dizier base’s medical service. The two pilots had significant flying experience, with 2,600 and 3,000 flight hours respectively. They were reportedly practicing a classic maneuver that typically involves six aircraft.
One of the aircraft crashed in a marshy and wooded area, while the second came down on an industrial site, impacting a cement works. A small fire broke out at the cement works but was quickly extinguished by firefighters. Authorities confirmed that there were no casualties on the ground. A witness reported seeing the two aircraft touch while descending in formation, followed by one aircraft going down and two parachutes deploying.
Two investigations have been launched into the collision. The Bureau enquêtes accidents pour la sécurité de l’aéronautique d’Etat (BEA-E), the state aviation safety investigation bureau, will examine the circumstances of the accident. Additionally, a judicial inquiry has been opened by the air force gendarmerie to determine responsibility, which is standard procedure to ascertain if the cause was human or mechanical error. The last similar incident involving two aircraft and pilot ejections within the Patrouille de France occurred on 13 February 1991.
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