Two Rafale fighter jets collided, 2 pilots killed
Paris: Two Rafale fighter jets of the French Air Force collided in the northeastern region of France. Two pilots died in this accident. French President Emmanuel Macron gave information about the air accident. President Emmanuel Macron said that two Rafale fighter jets collided during training on Wednesday. According to news agency Xinhua, French President Emmanuel Macron said on his X post, “I was informed of the sad news that Rafale aircraft suffered an air crash during a training mission. Two pilots died in this.”
According to the French Air Force, two Rafale fighter jets collided in the skies of northeastern France at 12:30 pm local time on Wednesday, causing both planes to crash and fall to the ground. The accident occurred while returning after refueling in Germany. There were two pilots in one plane and one pilot in the other. French officials said that the pilot of the second jet escaped safely in the accident. French Defense Minister Sebastian Lekarnu confirmed the incident on his X account and said that two Rafale fighter jets collided in the air on Wednesday afternoon in the northeastern region of France, Meurthe et Moselle. The reasons for the collision between the two planes are not yet known. Officials say that the accident took place above Colombey-les-Belles, a city in northeastern France. According to the local administration, a report on the causes of the accident will be presented by the military authorities in a few days.
The multi-role fighter jet Rafale, which is used to ensure air superiority, attack land and sea targets, spy and even carry France’s nuclear warheads. It is the best-selling military aircraft of the French arms industry. Colombey-les-Belles Deputy Mayor Patrice Bonneux told the media, “We heard a loud sound at around 12:30 pm, it was not the normal sound of the sonic boom of a fighter jet. It was a strange sound. I saw two planes collide, but we did not believe it,”
Let us tell you, earlier in December 2007, a Rafale jet crashed near the city of Neuvic in southwestern France. After which the pilot was held responsible for this accident. This is considered the first accident of the Rafale aircraft. After this, in September 2009, two Rafale aircraft crashed while returning to the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier off the coast of Perpignan after completing a test flight. In which one pilot was killed. Apart from France, Rafale aircraft are used by Egypt, India, Greece, Indonesia, Croatia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
