Rafale marine aircrafts crashed into the Mediterranean Sea

On Thursday September 24, 2009, at about 18:00, two Rafale fighters from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle crashed into the Mediterranean Sea about thirty miles east of Perpignan, while they were returning to the carrier at the end of their mission. One pilot was rescued by helicopter and evacuated aboard the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. This pilot is safe and sound. He is currently under observation aboard the carrier. Both aircraft were participating in a flight test to validate the operational capabilities of the naval group. They were not carrying any weapons. Having sailed from Toulon on September 21, the Charles de Gaulle was operating in the Mediterranean. Her air group comprised four Rafales, three Super Etendard Modernisés (SEM), and three 3 helicopters (two Dauphins and ine Alouette III). Major air and maritime resources are currently deployed in the zone to find the pilot of the second aircraft. Search operations are coordinated by the maritime prefecture of the Mediterranean naval zone. Search operations to find and recover the pilot of the second Rafale Marine combat aircraft that crashed into the sea on Sept. 24 continued throughout the night with no success.