Two French Pilots Lost their Lives After Rafale Jets Collide Mid-Air

Two French pilots lost their lives, after their Rafale jets collided mid-air during a training mission in eastern France.

The collision occurred over the town of Colombey-les-Belles, resulting in the deaths of Captain Sebastien Mabire and Lieutenant Matthis Laurens.

President Emmanuel Macron expressed his condolences on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "We learn with sadness the death of Captain Sebastien Mabire and Lieutenant Matthis Laurens in an air accident in a Rafale training mission.

The nation shares the grief of their families and brothers in arms at Air Base 113 in Saint-Dizier." One pilot managed to eject safely from the crash, but authorities launched a desperate search for the missing instructor and student pilot on the second jet.

Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu confirmed, "One of the pilots was found safe and sound."

The cause of the collision remains under investigation by military authorities. Local prefecture officials have assured that a detailed report will be provided once the investigation is complete.

The Rafale jet, known for its versatility in various military operations including hunting enemy planes, striking ground and sea targets, reconnaissance, and even carrying France’s nuclear warheads, has been a significant product of the French arms industry.

Despite its advanced technology, accidents involving Rafale jets are rare.

The last documented mishap occurred in December 2007 when a Rafale jet crashed near Neuvic in southwestern France due to pilot disorientation.

Patrice Bonneaux, deputy mayor of Colombey-les-Belles, recounted the moment of the collision: "We heard a loud noise, around 12:30 pm. It was not the usual sonic boom of a fighter jet breaking the sound barrier.

It was a strange noise, a percussive sound. I assumed that two planes had collided, but we didn’t believe it."

France has sold the Rafale to several countries, including Egypt, India, Greece, Indonesia, Croatia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

In January, Defence Minister Lecornu announced that France had ordered 42 new Rafale fighter jets, with the first deliveries expected in 2027.