The key facts

  • The Metz prosecutor's office confirmed two deaths, but DNA analysis is required for identification
  • The Mirage 2000D fighter jet from the Nancy-Ochey base crashed at around 23:35 on Tuesday in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department
  • A judicial inquiry into the causes of the crash has been opened

Deaths of two people confirmed

The Metz prosecutor's office reported that evidence found at the crash site confirms the deaths of two people in the crash of a French Air Force Mirage 2000D fighter jet. According to the prosecutor's office, as relayed by the BFMTV television channel, these findings must be confirmed by ongoing DNA analysis to identify the deceased. Earlier, authorities reported the death of the pilot, and the search for the navigator was continuing.

Circumstances of the crash

The aircraft, based at the Nancy-Ochey air base, crashed late on Tuesday evening in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department near Nancy. The crash occurred at around 23:35 local time (21:35 GMT) between the villages of Rogéville, Domèvre-en-Haye and Tremblecourt.

Authorities' response

The mayor of nearby Pont-à-Mousson, Henri Lemoine, said that significant police and fire brigade forces were dispatched to the scene, and the aircraft wreckage was located by a drone. A crisis coordination centre has been set up in Rogéville, and local authorities warned of possible transport disruptions in the surrounding area. A judicial inquiry has been opened to establish the circumstances and cause of the crash.