A dramatic video captured the moment two military jets collided in midair during a stunt rehearsal in France on Tuesday. The collision resulted in the jets crashing to the ground and erupting in a large explosion.
According to the French Air and Space Force’s X post, the collision forced three pilots and one passenger to eject and deploy their parachutes, landing safely.
The jets were part of a seven-aircraft formation flying in coordination with the Patrouille de France (PAF), the French Air and Space Force’s precision aerobatics demonstration team, near the Saint-Dizier air base around 3:40 p.m. local time.
The video shows the seven jets performing a synchronized turn while releasing colored smoke, when at least two of the jets made contact.
The two colliding jets then spiraled downward as the crew members ejected and deployed their parachutes. The jets crashed into the ground and burst into flames.
“At BA 113 in Saint-Dizier, two Alphajets from the Patrouille de France collided during a 7-plane training flight,” read the X post. “All three pilots, including a passenger, ejected safely. No casualties have been reported at the crash site thus far.”
France’s Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, acknowledged the incident on X and stated that emergency services were dispatched to the location.
“Slightly injured, they received medical attention,” he wrote. “Grateful to the mobilized emergency services, and sending thoughts to our Patrouille de France pilots.”
Quentin Brière, the mayor of Saint-Dizier, reported that one jet crashed into a silo and the other into a nearby marshy wooded area, according to AFP.
WATCH: Two military jets collide in midair stunt, dramatically crash to ground in fiery explosion
The cause of the collision is currently unknown.
The Alpha Jet, a light attack and advanced trainer aircraft, was a joint development between Dassault Aviation (France) and Dornier (Germany) in the 1970s. The two-seat jets are commonly used for pilot training and light attack missions.
Founded in 1953, the PAF is a highly regarded aerobatic unit, known for its performances during Bastille Day parades, according to Le Parisien. The PAF consists of elite fighter pilots, and accidents within the unit are uncommon.
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