A French fighter jet crash in northeastern France has claimed the life of a pilot, while authorities continue searching for a missing navigator who was also aboard the aircraft.
The French Armed Forces Ministry confirmed the incident on Wednesday. The Mirage 2000D fighter jet crashed late Tuesday in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department, near the city of Nancy.
The aircraft was operating from the Nancy-Ochey air base when it went down during a training flight, according to French broadcaster BFMTV.
French Fighter Jet Crash Triggers Search Operation
The aircraft carried two crew members: a pilot and a navigator. Authorities confirmed the pilot’s death but had not located the navigator as search operations continued.
The French fighter jet crash occurred at approximately 11:35 p.m. local time on Tuesday. The reported crash site lies between the villages of Rogeville, Domèvre-en-Haye and Tremblecourt, north of Nancy.
Henry Lemoine, mayor of nearby Pont-Ã -Mousson, said significant police and firefighting resources had been deployed to the area.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Lemoine disclosed that a drone had helped locate debris from the aircraft. However, he said authorities had yet to release further details as emergency teams continued their work.
Investigation Launched Into French Fighter Jet Crash
Authorities established a crisis coordination centre in Rogeville to support the emergency response.
Local officials also warned residents about possible traffic disruptions around the affected area as rescue and investigation teams carried out their duties.
A judicial investigation has been opened to establish what caused the aircraft to crash during the training flight.
Officials had not announced the cause of the incident in the report published on Wednesday. The search for the missing navigator was also ongoing at the time of reporting.
The incident has drawn attention to the risks associated with military aviation training, although investigators are yet to determine the circumstances surrounding this particular crash.