Two Military Jets Collide Midair During Stunt Rehearsal in France in Explosive Crash (Video)

Two Alpha jets collided midair during a training exercise in France on Tuesday before crashing to the ground and exploding in a massive fireball, dramatic video shows.

Two military jets collided midair during a stunt rehearsal in France on Tuesday before crashing to the ground and erupting into a massive fireball. The incident resulted in three pilots and one passenger ejecting and parachuting to safety, according to the French Air and Space Force.

The jets were part of a seven-aircraft team conducting a coordinated flight with the Patrouille de France (PAF), an elite precision aerobatics demonstration unit, near an air base in Saint-Dizier in northeastern France at approximately 3:40 p.m. local time. Video footage captured the aircraft maneuvering in unison while releasing colored smoke when at least two jets collided midair.

Following the collision, both jets spiraled downward while the crew members successfully ejected and deployed their parachutes. The aircraft crashed to the ground and ignited in a fiery explosion. The French Air and Space Force confirmed that all three pilots and one passenger survived without serious injuries. There were no reported casualties in the crash zone.

France’s Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, acknowledged the incident and confirmed that emergency services were dispatched to the scene. He stated that the injured individuals received medical care and expressed gratitude for the swift response of emergency personnel. Quentin Brière, the mayor of Saint-Dizier, reported that one of the jets crashed into a silo, while the other landed in a marshy wooded area nearby. The cause of the collision remains unknown.

The Alpha Jet, developed jointly by Dassault Aviation of France and Dornier of Germany in the 1970s, is a light attack and advanced trainer aircraft. It features two seats and is commonly used for pilot training and aerobatic displays.

The Patrouille de France, established in 1953, is a prestigious aerobatic unit renowned for its performances, including displays during Bastille Day celebrations. The unit comprises carefully selected fighter pilots, and accidents within the team are rare.