During a practice near Air Base 113, west of Saint-Dizier in northeastern France, two Alpha Jet aircraft belonging to the French Air Force’s aerobatics squad, Patrouille de France, collided on 25 March 2025. Emergency services were mobilised immediately after the crash, according to French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu, who verified that the event happened at approximately 15:35 local time.
Both pilots and a passenger were found conscious at the scene after successfully ejecting from their aircraft during the crash. Though reports said there were no civilian casualties on the ground, one person was reported to have several injuries. Videos showed smoke and flames rising from the impact site when one of the aircraft struck a silo, causing a fire.
Social media footage showed the two planes doing a manoeuvre when they crashed in midair, causing them to quickly descend. Since 1981, the Patrouille de France, which is well-known for its accurate aerobatic performances, has been practicing using the Alpha Jet.
This incident calls into question the safety procedures used in military training exercises, particularly in light of the catastrophic August 2024 accident involving Rafale jets that claimed two lives.
Authorities are currently evaluating the situation and making sure that the right precautions are taken to avoid similar events in the future while conducting an inquiry into the circumstances behind this mid-air collision.
