In a concerning incident, two Rafale fighter jets were involved in a mid-air collision, as per news reports. The incident occurred on May 22 during an airshow at the 709 base in Cognac-Chateaubernard in France.
The Rafale aircraft belonged to the 30th Fighter Squadron of the French Air Force. The tailfin of one of the jets was damaged and some debris fell and damaged a house in Gensac-la-Pallue, according to a report in the EurAsian Times.
However, the two aircraft were able to land without difficulty, and no injuries were reported.
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One of the Rafale involved in the crash had recently participated in the NATO Tiger Meet military exercise amid the Russia-Ukraine war. The Rafale GA-30 had been painted in special colours for the NATO exercise.
The jets involved in the incident were Rafale C single-seat aircraft from the Vautour Bravo tactical demonstration team which showcases the aircraft's operational capabilities. The French Air Force has launched an investigation into the incident.
In February 2022, another Rafale jet had suffered a technical malfunction. The Rafale's Marine variant had to be redirected to Malta after the nozzle of the refuelling probe fell off and the jet could not be refuelled for a return journey to the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.
The most serious Rafale accident occurred in 2009 when 2 Rafale Marine jets fell in the Mediterranean sea during a test flight. One pilot went missing, while the other was injured.
India has bought 36 Rafale jets from Dassault Aviation for its Air Force.