Aerobatic Disaster: Patrouille de France Fighter Jets Crash Mid-Flight

A routine training exercise turned into a terrifying mid-air disaster when two fighter jets from the Patrouille de France collided on Tuesday, March 25.

The high-speed crash, which took place near Saint-Dizier Air Base in northeastern France, forced three pilots and one passenger to eject as their aircraft spiraled towards the ground in a fiery descent.

The dramatic incident, captured on video, shows a formation of seven Alphajet aircraft executing a synchronized maneuver while trailing colored smoke.

However, in a split second, two jets make contact, sending both into an uncontrollable dive. Within moments, the pilots eject, their parachutes deploying against the backdrop of the falling wreckage.

According to the French Air and Space Force, all crew members survived with only minor injuries and were swiftly taken into medical care. Emergency responders rushed to the crash site, where one of the jets struck the Calin company silos in Villiers-en-Lieu, igniting a fire, while the other reportedly crashed into a canal. Fortunately, no casualties were reported on the ground.

French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu expressed relief that the pilots escaped safely and thanked emergency personnel for their rapid response. Investigators are now examining the cause of the crash, which has raised concerns about the risks involved in high-intensity aerobatic training.

The Patrouille de France, the country’s elite aerobatics demonstration team, is known for its precision flying and stunning aerial displays. This accident is a stark reminder of the dangers these pilots face while perfecting their craft in the skies.