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The skies over northeastern France were filled with vibrant rainbow smoke trails and the thunderous roar of jet engines.
On this day, the Patrouille de France team set out for their routine training exercises, known for their precision and seamless execution.
Taking off from Air Base 113, the elite pilots prepared to showcase their impressive aerial stunts in preparation for an upcoming event.
Seven Alpha Jets soared in perfect formation, leaving behind streaks of red, white, and blue smoke as they executed intricate maneuvers.
Spectators on the ground watched in awe as the planes performed a mesmerizing aerial display.
For decades, the twin-engine Alpha Jet has been the backbone of the Patrouille de France, serving as a key aircraft for both aerial demonstrations and pilot training.
The French military utilizes these jets to train not only its own pilots but also those from Ukraine.
The city of Saint-Dizier had planned a full week of aviation events, beginning on Monday.
Training sessions ran from Monday to Friday, culminating in a special nighttime practice session.
What was meant to be a routine exercise turned into a nightmare when disaster struck over Saint-Dizier at 3:35 p.m.
What began as a flawless aerial display quickly spiraled into chaos.
Witnesses reported hearing a sudden, sharp “bang” that rattled nearby buildings and left people on the ground in confusion.
“I felt the ground shake, and we saw debris falling from the sky,” one worker told local media.
Amid the chaos, three individuals were seen descending with parachutes as flames engulfed their aircraft.
The pilots and a guest onboard managed to eject safely, landing without fatal injuries.
All three were found conscious—two were transported to a local hospital in “relative emergency” condition, while the third, described as suffering from multiple traumas, is receiving treatment from military medical personnel.
Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene, initiating the SATER aircraft search and recovery protocol.
Helicopters were deployed to locate crash sites, while police and medical teams secured the area to prevent unauthorized access.
One of the jets struck a concrete silo at Calin Concrete, near the airbase, causing a powerful impact that ignited a fire requiring an urgent firefighting response.
The second jet went down in a nearby canal just moments after the mid-air collision.
Despite the crash occurring near residential areas, authorities confirmed that no civilians were injured.
During his visit to the crash site, Saint-Dizier Mayor Quentin Brière praised the pilots for their swift actions in handling the emergency.
He urged the public to stay calm and not “give in to panic” despite the alarming nature of the incident.
France’s Armed Forces Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, addressed the incident in a statement on social media.
The defense and interior ministries had already mobilized resources as part of the emergency response efforts.
A federal agency has launched a full investigation to determine the cause and sequence of the accident.
Officials will examine any operational issues to identify the failure’s root cause and ensure the safety of future training exercises.
Authorities have confirmed that both aircraft were completely destroyed in the crash.
The jets collided mid-air during a routine safety training exercise, resulting in their total loss.
