A rehearsal for a French Red Arrows display ended in absolute horror after two jets collided mid-air during stunt practice.
Two Alpha jets from France's Patrouille de France aerobatic team crashed mid-air during a training drill near Saint-Dizier in France.
The extraordinary footage of the shocking collision was captured by bystanders this afternoon when both pilots managed to eject before the crash.
The jets were part of the French Air Force's precision aerobatic demonstration team - which is often compared to Britain's Red Arrows.
The terrifying moment was posted on social media, showing the aircraft tumbling from the sky during a training drill involving seven Alpha jets.
The collision occurred around 3.40pm near Air Base 113 as the aircraft were rehearsing for a Patrouille de France airshow.
Footage shows five of the planes trailing red, white and blue smoke soaring through the sky and then two jets trailing behind appear to touch each other before tumbling down together.
At least three people were involved in the collision, including a pilot who has been taken to hospital while officials have confirmed both jets were destroyed in the crash.
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One of the jets is believe to have crashed into the Calin silos in Saint-Dizier as the other aircraft is understood to have landed in a canal.
Local media has reported that the two pilots and one passenger were "found conscious" after they ejected from the aircraft while emergency services quickly rushed to the scene.
French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu shared a post online following the incident.
He said: "Emergency services are being mobilised, and coordination is being ensured by the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of the Armed Forces."
No further details have been provided about the condition of those involved in the incident.
The Patrouille de France is the French Air and Space Force's precision aerobatic demonstration team, comprising nine pilots who regularly perform at national events and international airshows.
The team has experienced previous tragedies, including a fatal crash in 1967 when Captain Didier Duthois was unable to eject during the "Le Bourget" airshow.
Another team member died during a training flight in 2002 when his parachute failed to fully deploy.
In 2010, Captain Sylvian Courtot survived a crash with minor injuries after ejecting.
Find Out More...
Two Alpha jets from France's Patrouille de France aerobatic team crashed mid-air during a training drill near Saint-Dizier in France.
The extraordinary footage of the shocking collision was captured by bystanders this afternoon when both pilots managed to eject before the crash.
The jets were part of the French Air Force's precision aerobatic demonstration team - which is often compared to Britain's Red Arrows.
The terrifying moment was posted on social media, showing the aircraft tumbling from the sky during a training drill involving seven Alpha jets.
The collision occurred around 3.40pm near Air Base 113 as the aircraft were rehearsing for a Patrouille de France airshow.
Footage shows five of the planes trailing red, white and blue smoke soaring through the sky and then two jets trailing behind appear to touch each other before tumbling down together.
At least three people were involved in the collision, including a pilot who has been taken to hospital while officials have confirmed both jets were destroyed in the crash.
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One of the jets is believe to have crashed into the Calin silos in Saint-Dizier as the other aircraft is understood to have landed in a canal.
Local media has reported that the two pilots and one passenger were "found conscious" after they ejected from the aircraft while emergency services quickly rushed to the scene.
French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu shared a post online following the incident.
He said: "Emergency services are being mobilised, and coordination is being ensured by the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of the Armed Forces."
No further details have been provided about the condition of those involved in the incident.
The Patrouille de France is the French Air and Space Force's precision aerobatic demonstration team, comprising nine pilots who regularly perform at national events and international airshows.
The team has experienced previous tragedies, including a fatal crash in 1967 when Captain Didier Duthois was unable to eject during the "Le Bourget" airshow.
Another team member died during a training flight in 2002 when his parachute failed to fully deploy.
In 2010, Captain Sylvian Courtot survived a crash with minor injuries after ejecting.
Find Out More...