PERPIGNAN | The Patrouille de France suspended all aerobatic displays after one of their jets crash-landed in a field and crashed into a wall by a main road on Thursday 25th July.
🔴 One of the Patrouille de France planes had a runway excursion after landing at Perpignan airport.
▫️The aircraft has completed its run on the Peyrestortes Road, which borders the runways of the airport.
▫️The pilot was able to eject and remain alive. pic.twitter.com/vyPQDPBmKq
— air plus news (english) (@airplusnews_EN) July 25, 2019
The French Air Force team had just performed a practice display at Saint-Cyprien and were returning to Perpignan – Rivesaltes Airport when ‘Athos 2’ landed in a field near the airport and skidded into a roadside barrier. The pilot managed to eject and was reportedly injured, but the Patrouille de France said there was “no cause for concern” about his health.
The team have halted their displays while an investigation determines the cause of the accident, but posted on Tuesday 30th July that practices and displays had been resumed. They expressed hope that Athos 2 will re-join the team soon, after his recovery.
The Patrouille de France are France’s national aerobatic team, flying eight Alpha Jets. They can trace their routes back to 1931. Today’s accident is the team’s first for almost a decade.