Two pilots were missing after two French Rafale jets collided in mid-air in northeastern France on Wednesday. One pilot ejected following the crash, but an instructor and a student pilot on the second jet were missing. The two supersonic jets were from the Saint-Dizier air base, an air force spokesman in Paris told AFP.
Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu confirmed that one pilot was found safe and sound, but the search is ongoing for the missing pilots. The cause of the collision, which took place over Colombey-les-Belles, remains unknown.
The Rafale jet, a versatile fighter used by the French military, has become a bestseller for the country’s arms industry. Accidents involving Rafale jets are rare, but this recent collision has sparked concern in the region.
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for increased production and innovation in defense manufacturing, especially in light of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The French military has ordered more than 230 Rafale jets since the aircraft went into service.