-
Strikes and protests in January 2026 and how you may be affected
Doctors, rail staff, and farmers are all taking action
-
Good news as lower electricity bills confirmed in France
The change is not a ‘revolution’ but will give some purchasing power back, minister says
-
French ski resorts report excellent Christmas despite less snow than last year
Bookings are up and non-snow related activities are also on the rise
French military jets brush in mid-air ‘near-miss’ in practice session
The Rafale planes later landed without incident but a piece of one aircraft fell and damaged the roof of a home in a nearby village in the south-west
An investigation is under way after two French military jets brushed against each other in mid-air during a practice session in southwest France yesterday (May 22).
Both planes then landed without incident.
The Rafale aircraft from the 30th hunting squadron brushed each other during a tactical presentation at the 709 Cognac-Châteaubernard base in Charente at around 12:40, confirmed commander Colonel Nicolas Lyautey.
Advertisment
Both planes then landed “without difficulty” and “no one was injured”, he added, saying that the incident was “very rare”.
A technical investigation is now underway, and administrative and legal inquiries are set to follow.
The incident is the first of its kind in 12 years, after a similar accident happened in April 2010, the Air Force press office said.
“One of the [aircraft] lost a piece of its fin, which damaged the roof of a house when it fell" in the neighbouring village of Gensac-la-Pallue, Colonel Lyautey said.
A resident of the affected street in Gensac-la-Pallue told AFP that the debris “damaged a roof” before “falling on the pavement”. He said: “It was a piece measuring around 1m40. I saw it from a distance, and there were lots of law enforcement officers around it. A neighbour sent me a photo.
“Just as well that the occupant of the house wasn’t at home when it happened.”
Related articles
Mystery plane crash kills pilot in southern France
French air force confirms July 14 red smoke error
French village honours widow of British airman who escaped WW2 crash
