A French Mirage 2000D fighter jet crashed during its final approach to an air base in eastern France, killing at least one crew member and leaving another missing after a night training mission.
According to the Associated Press (AP), the aircraft was returning to its base late Tuesday evening when it crashed near Rogeville, about 18 km northwest of Nancy. The French armed forces confirmed that one body had been recovered, while search operations continued for the second crew member.
In its official update, the French Air and Space Force said search operations and investigations were underway.
Local offical Yves Seguy told reporters that the wooded area where the aircraft crashed was searched overnight despite adverse weather conditions. The aircraft belonged to the nearby 133 Nancy-Ochey air base and was on its final approach after the night training mission when the accident occurred, AP reported.
Colonel Ludovic Humbert, commandant of the Nancy-Ochey air base, said the weapons systems officer was an experienced serviceman who was flying alongside a young pilot. Authorities have opened an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
The Mirage 2000D is a two-seat combat aircraft designed primarily for ground-attack missions. According to the French armed forces ministry, it is built to operate in complex environments and supports conventional air operations and power-projection missions.