A tragic accident occurred on Friday during an airshow off the coast of southeast France, when a small aerobatic plane crashed into the sea, resulting in the death of the pilot. The incident took place at Le Lavandou just before a scheduled demonstration by the French air force’s elite acrobatic flying team.
The aircraft involved was a Fouga Magister, a vintage jet built after World War II. Originally used by the French military as both a trainer jet and an aerobatic plane, the Fouga Magister lacks an ejection seat, which contributed to the fatal outcome. The 65-year-old pilot was trapped inside the aircraft, and despite a swift rescue operation, his body was recovered from the sea.
The French air force has confirmed that the show was canceled due to the “tragic circumstances” surrounding the accident. This incident follows another recent tragedy in the French military aviation community, where two pilots lost their lives in a mid-air collision involving Rafale fighter jets in eastern France earlier this week.
The accident has brought renewed attention to the safety measures in place for military and aerobatic aircraft operations. The French air force and other relevant authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the crash and prevent future occurrences.
Sources By Agencies
