Thu, Mar 27, 2025
Two Pilots, One Passenger Eject And Survive
Two Alpha Jets with the Patrouille de France collided during a training exercise on Tuesday March 25, 2025, near Air Base 113 in Saint-Dizier (Haute-Marne) and both aircraft were destroyed. Video posted on social media showed the six aircraft completing what looked like a loop maneuver when two of the jets trailing the formation hit each other.
Sebastien Lecornu announced the accident in a post on the social channel X and said "An accident involving two Alpha Jets of the Patrouille de France during rehearsals has just occurred in the east of France. Emergency services are being mobilized."
The video clips showed parachutes emerging from the aircraft and the French Air Force said that three people were “found conscious.” It was determined later that one of the jets had a second pilot riding as a passenger, and all three ejected and were recovered uninjured.
The Air-Terrestrial Rescue service, Sater, that organizes searches for civil or military aircraft using air, land, or radioelectric methods, was activated by Regine Pam, the Prefect of Haute-Marne.
The Patrouille de France, an aerobatic unit founded in 1953 and famed for its displays during Bastille Day parades, is comprised of hand-picked fighter pilots. The unit has had very few accidents with the last one being a runway excursion following a training session but the pilot ejected safely.
Accident Details:
- Date: Tuesday 25 March 2025
- Time: c. 15:35
- Type: Silhouette image of generic AJET model; Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet E
- Owner/operator: Armée de l'Air (French Air Force) PdF
- Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
- Other fatalities: 0
- Aircraft damage: Destroyed
- Location: near Saint-Dizier AB (LFSI), Saint Dizier, Haute-Marne - France
- Phase: Maneuvering (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
- Nature: Military
- Departure airport: Saint-Dizier-Robinson Airport (LFSI)
- Destination airport: Saint-Dizier-Robinson Airport (LFSI)
- Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources
Narrative: Two Alpha Jets collided during an exercise in eastern France. The aircraft collided in mid-air during training on Tuesday March 25 at 3:40 pm. The pilots reportedly had time to eject.
The Alpha Jets are on a four-day mission at BA113, Saint-Dizier. The 2 pilots and a passenger “found conscious.”
A fire broke out in a factory when one of the jets crashed into it but no injuries were reported.
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