Latest news with #QuentinBrière
Express Tribune
26-03-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
Two French military jets collide midair during aerobatic rehearsal
French Air Force said that two Alpha Jets from the Patrouille de France collided during a seven-plane training flight. PHOTO: Listen to article Two French military jets collided midair during an aerobatic rehearsal on Tuesday, crashing in flames near an air base in northeastern France. Video footage of the dramatic incident near Saint-Dizier shows two Alpha Jets from the Patrouille de France (PAF) aerobatic team spiralling to the ground after colliding while performing synchronized manoeuvres. Three pilots and one passenger safely ejected and parachuted to the ground, the French Air and Space Force confirmed on social media. The incident occurred at approximately 15:40 local time. The aircraft were part of a seven-plane formation conducting precision stunts when the collision occurred. "At BA 113 in Saint-Dizier, two Alpha Jets from the Patrouille de France collided during a seven-plane training flight," stated the Air Force. "The three pilots, including one passenger, were able to eject in time and are safe. No casualties have been reported at this stage." French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu said emergency services responded swiftly, providing medical care to the crew, who sustained minor injuries. Saint-Dizier's mayor, Quentin Brière, said one jet crashed into a silo and the other in a nearby marshy wooded area, according to reports by AFP cited in Le Parisien. The cause of the collision remains unclear. The Alpha Jet is used primarily for pilot training and aerobatic displays. Patrouille de France, founded in 1953, is renowned for its precision flying, regularly performing at high-profile events such as Bastille Day celebrations.
Fox News
25-03-2025
- General
- Fox News
Two military jets collide in midair stunt, crash to ground in fiery explosion
Two military jets collided midair during a stunt rehearsal in France on Tuesday before crashing to the ground and exploding in a massive fireball, dramatic video shows. The collision caused three pilots and one passenger to eject and parachute to safety, the French Air and Space Force wrote on X. The jets were part of a seven-aircraft team flying in coordination with the Patrouille de France (PAF), a precision aerobatics demonstration unit of the agency, near an air base in Saint-Dizier in northeastern France at around 3:40 p.m. local time. Video shows the seven aircraft turning in unison while emitting colored smoke, but at least two of the jets collide with one another. The two jets then spiral towards the ground while the crew can be seen immediately ejecting and activating their parachutes. The jets crash to the ground and ignite in a fiery plume. "At BA 113 in Saint-Dizier, two Alphajets from the Patrouille de France collided during a 7-plane training flight," the post on X reads. "The three pilots, including one passenger, were able to eject in time and are safe. There are no casualties to report at this stage in the crash zone." Sébastien Lecornu, France's minister of the Armed Forces, also confirmed the incident and wrote on X that emergency services responded to the scene. "Slightly injured, they were taken into care," he wrote. "Thanks to the emergency services mobilized, thoughts for our pilots of the Patrouille de France." Quentin Brière, the mayor of Saint-Dizier, said that one of the jets crashed into a silo and the other in a marshy wooded area just behind it, according to Le Parisien, citing AFP. WATCH: Two military jets collide in midair stunt, dramatically crash to ground in fiery explosion It is unclear what caused the aircraft to come together. The Alpha Jet is a light attack and advanced trainer aircraft developed jointly by Dassault Aviation of France and Dornier of Germany in the 1970s. The jets come with two seats and are typically used for pilot training and aerobatic stunts. The PAF was founded in 1953 and is considered a prestigious aerobatic unit famous for its displays during the Bastille Day parades, according to the French news outlet Le Parisien. The PAF is made up of hand-picked fighter pilots and accidents are rare among the unit.
