Two French Air Force Rafale fighter jets crashed on the border between the Vosges and Meurthe-et-Moselle regions in eastern France.
The French Ministry of the Armed Forces has confirmed that two pilots—a student and their instructor—aboard a two-seater Rafale B aircraft, lost their lives in the crash. A third pilot, flying a single-seat Rafale C jet, successfully ejected and was recovered with minor injuries.
“We learned with sadness of the deaths of Captain Sébastien Mabire and Lieutenant Matthis Laurens, during an air accident during a Rafale training mission,” French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement. “The Nation shares the grief of their families and brothers in arms at Air Base 113 in Saint-Dizier.”
The two aircraft belonged to the Rafale Transition Squadron 3/4 Aquitaine, located at BA 113 Saint-Dizier—Robinson Air Base. According to the French Air and Space Force, they were involved in a mid-air collision during a combat maneuver while returning from a refueling mission in Germany.
The Meurthe-et-Moselle prefecture promptly activated the departmental operational center and initiated the SATER (air-land rescue) plan to support military forces in response to the incident.
“Aircraft accident in the Colombey sector: the departmental operational center is activated in support of the armed forces to coordinate the search,” the Meurthe-et-Moselle prefecture advised in a press release. “Avoid the area and follow the instructions of the authorities.”
The Escadron de Transformation Rafale 3/4 Aquitaine is a French Air Force squadron that trains pilots on the Rafale multirole fighter aircraft. Based at Saint-Dizier-Robinson Air Base, it plays a crucial role in transitioning pilots from other aircraft to the Rafale platform. The squadron is responsible for initial and advanced training, ensuring pilots are fully equipped to operate the Rafale in various mission profiles, including air defense, ground attack, and reconnaissance.
An investigation was opened by the French Investigation Bureau for State Aviation Safety (BEA-E).
The article was updated with a statement by the French Ministry of Armed Forces, confirming the death of two pilots
