{
  "id": 15975428,
  "title": "French fighter jet crashes during training, two killed",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/french-fighter-jet-crashes-during-training-two-killed",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-21T23:27:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2026/10/1561027/french-fighter-jet-crashes-during-training-two-killed"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Tuesday night, a French Mirage 2000D fighter jet crashed during a training flight near Nancy, northeastern France, killing both crew members, officials announced on Wednesday. The plane struck the ground at 2100 GMT when it was flying on instruments as part of the tactical phase of the exercise. Neither the pilot, aged 27, nor the 44-year-old navigator had time to deploy their ejection seats, as found at the crash site, Metz prosecutor David Touvet told AFP.\n\nPresident Emmanuel Macron expressed condolences for the loss of life during a press briefing in Doha, where he is on a visit. The highly experienced navigator and the young pilot, who had 450 flight hours and was in the process of qualifying as an operational combat pilot, both perished in the impact. Given the violence of the collision, forensic DNA analyses to identify the victims may take several weeks.\n\nAir base commander Ludovic Humbert stated that the crew consisted of a seasoned navigator and the new pilot. The pilot was unable to eject as there was no radio or radar contact with air traffic control at the end of the training mission, as reported by Colonel David Pappalardo, spokesman for the Air and Space Force (AAE). Neighbors witnessed a loud bang similar to an aircraft breaking the sound barrier but did not see the plane crash, which occurred in a wooded area.",
  "summary": "PARIS: A French Mirage 2000D fighter jet crashed in northeastern France during a training flight, killing both crew members, officials said on Wednesday.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "French Mirage 2000D fighter jet crashes during training, killing two crew",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/french-mirage-2000d-fighter-jet-crashes-during-training-killing-two",
        "published": "2026-10-21T23:38:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}