Two Patrouille de France aircraft crash into each other during stunt in Saint Dizier

Extraordinary footage has shown the moment that two Patrouille de France Alpha Jets collided while training near Air Base 113 in Saint Dizier, France.

The two pilots and a passenger in the rear seat ejected from their aircraft, were found unharmed after the crash, and received medical treatment.

The accident happened outside Paris. 

• RAF bids a fond farewell to its Super Pumas as they take part in goodbye flypast
• RAF Regiment gunners in action on international exercise on land and in the air
• RAF engineers fined for breaking Paddington Bear statue in half before stealing it

Sébastien Lecornu, France's armed forces minister, posted on X: "Thanks to the emergency services mobilised, thoughts for our pilots of the Patrouille de France."

In videos circulating on social media showing the incident, six jets appear to have flown in formation. The five jets flew in an arrow pattern with a jet in the centre just behind the tip.

The aircraft then curved downwards while spraying the French tricolour.

After that, two jets separated from the group and crashed into each other, leading one of the jets to spiral downwards to the ground and explode, while the other jet continued to fly in front of shocked spectators.

An investigation is underway to find out more about the cause of the accident.

The Patrouille de France, which was created in 1947, is the French version of the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows.

The French aerobatic team fly in jets that are painted in blue, white and red like the French flag.

The pilots use the Dassault or Dornier Alpha Jet, which is a training and tactical-support twin-jet tandem two-seater aircraft.

It can fly at speeds of up to 575mph and is able to climb 12,500ft per minute.

The Patrouille de France previously flew the Fouga Magister before it was replaced with the Alpha Jet in 1981, according to Dassault Aviation.

The team was broken up in 1964 due to a lack of money to fund it but France's defence minister later decided to reinstate the display team a year later because he liked it.

The French air display team performed during the Paris Olympics last year and often execute a flypast during the military parade for Bastille Day, which happens on 14 July.