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.

FBI foils "terror plot" targeting Los Angeles
Hong Kong court finds tycoon Jimmy Lai guilty in landmark security trial
Ukraine peace talks stretch into second day at start of pivotal week for Europe
Flash floods kill at least 37 people in Morocco's Safi province
'Hero' who disarmed Bondi gunman recovering after surgery, family says
School bus accident in Colombia kills 17, injures 20
Australia plans tougher gun laws after father and son kill 15 at Bondi Beach
Police to release man detained over Brown University mass shooting
