On March 25, 2025, a training exercise involving the Patrouille de France, the French Air Force’s elite aerobatic team, resulted in a mid-air collision between two Alpha Jet aircraft near Air Base 113 in Saint-Dizier, eastern France. The incident occurred around 3:40 PM local time during a maneuver involving six aircraft. Both pilots and a passenger managed to eject safely and were found conscious; two were hospitalized, while the third received treatment from military medical personnel.
Eyewitness footage captured the moment of the collision, showing the aircraft performing synchronized stunts with their signature tricolor smoke before making contact. One of the jets crashed into the Calin silos in Saint-Dizier, causing damage to a local business and igniting a fire, while the other came to rest in a nearby canal.
The Alpha Jet, a twin-engine advanced trainer and light attack aircraft, has been a staple of the Patrouille de France since 1981. Developed collaboratively by France and Germany, the aircraft is renowned for its agility and performance, making it ideal for the precision aerobatics that the team is famous for.
This incident is not the first involving the Patrouille de France’s Alpha Jets. In 1983, during an airshow over Niort, two Alpha Jets collided mid-air during a maneuver, with one pilot ejecting safely. More recently, in 2019, an Alpha Jet veered off the runway during landing at Perpignan-Rivesaltes Airport; the pilot ejected and sustained minor injuries.
The French Ministry of the Armed Forces has initiated an investigation into the cause of the recent collision. This event may influence ongoing discussions about replacing the aging Alpha Jet fleet. The ministry has emphasized the need for a future aircraft that is “as French as possible” and showcases the expertise of the French aerospace industry.
The Patrouille de France, often likened to the UK’s Red Arrows, has a storied history of representing French aviation prowess through dynamic aerobatic displays at national events like Bastille Day and international airshows. As the investigation unfolds, the team’s operations are expected to be scrutinized to ensure the safety of its pilots and the continuation of its esteemed legacy.
