The key facts
- The Mirage 2000D crashed at around 22:40 on October 20 in the commune of Rozeville in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department while returning to the Nancy-Ochey airbase
- On board were a trainee pilot and an experienced weapons systems officer; remains of one of them have been found, and the second is being searched for with the help of a helicopter
- The causes of the crash are unknown, an investigation has been launched
Fighter Jet Crash Near Nancy
In France, on the evening of October 20, 2026, a Mirage 2000D fighter jet crashed with two servicemen on board. This was reported by the French Ministry of Armed Forces. The aircraft was returning from a training flight to the Nancy-Ochey airbase and crashed at around 22:40 near the commune of Rozeville in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department, not far from the city of Nancy in the northeast of the country.
Fate of the Crew
According to the radio station Franceinfo, remains of one of the crew members have been found at the crash site; his identity has yet to be established. On board were a young pilot undergoing training and an experienced weapons systems officer. A representative of the French Air Force suggested that at least one of them failed to eject. The fate of the second crew member remains unknown, and a helicopter has been deployed to search for him.
Search Operations
Local residents reported a powerful explosion and a bright flash in the sky. The wreckage of the fighter jet was located with the help of a drone, after which firefighters, gendarmes, and military specialists were sent to the crash area. The causes of the crash are still unknown, and an investigation has been launched.
Accidents in the Region in Previous Years
The outlet Life.ru recalls that in August 2024, two French Rafale fighter jets collided in the same department. At that time, Captain Sébastien Mabire and Lieutenant Mattis Laurence were killed, as announced by French President Emmanuel Macron, who expressed condolences to the families; another pilot ejected and survived. In addition, on June 28, 2026, a light aircraft carrying parachutists crashed near Nancy shortly after taking off from the Nancy-Essey airfield — 11 people were killed, including the pilot, instructors, and jump participants.
