One pilot dies after Mirage 2000-D crashes near Nancy, search for the other crew member continues

A French Air Force Mirage 2000-D fighter jet crashed near the city of Nancy, in northeastern France, at around 11 p.m. on Tuesday. The aircraft was conducting a training flight.

Authorities have confirmed that one of the two people on board was killed, while the search for the other crew member continues.

The aircraft was carrying a fighter pilot and a combat systems officer, who also served as the navigator. So far, it has not been disclosed what happened to the second person.

Henri Lemoine, mayor of the commune of Pont-à-Mousson, said the wreckage was found with the help of a drone. Witnesses in the area reported hearing a loud explosion and seeing a fireball in the night sky.

Firefighters, specialized aerial rescue teams, police forces and a helicopter have joined the operation to search for and rescue the crew. Authorities are looking for the second crew member and investigating the circumstances of the accident. The cause of the crash remains unknown.

The Mirage 2000-D is a two-seat fighter aircraft designed to attack ground targets. It entered service in 1993 and has been used in several military operations involving France, including in Kosovo in 1999, Libya in 2011, as well as Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and the Sahel region.

The model has also been involved in serious accidents. In January 2019, a Mirage 2000-D crashed in eastern France during a low-altitude night flight. The accident claimed the lives of the pilot and navigator.

Another such incident occurred in the Nancy area in July 2021. In that case, both crew members managed to eject in time.

The latest crash has once again highlighted the safety of training flights and the risks faced by fighter aircraft crews.