Two French military jets collided in midair near Colombey-les-Belles, northeastern France, on Wednesday, killing two military personnel and leaving a sole survivor, French officials said.
France’s Army of Air and Space said they were returning from a refuelling mission in Germany.
In a post on X, French President Emmanuel Macron identified the fatalities in the Rafale aircraft accident as Captain Sebastien Mabire and Lieutenant Matthis Laurens.
French media said one of the two was a trainee pilot and the other a pilot. French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on X that the remaining pilot survived.
The planes were based at the Saint-Dizier military installation in northeastern France.

Trump says 'a lot of unity' at NATO summit after lashing out at allies
Pakistani rescuers find wreckage of lost cargo plane
Trump says interim accord with Iran to end war is 'over'
US launches new strikes on Iran after shipping attacks
Iran targets sites in Bahrain, Kuwait after wave of US strikes
Russia launches third air attack on Kyiv in week, officials say
NATO leaders meet in Ankara as US ceasefire with Iran teeters
At least 21 killed in landslide in China's Gansu as rescue efforts end
