French Rafale Fighter Planes Crashed in the Sea

Two French Rafale fighter aircraft from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle fell in the Mediterranean Sea, Thursday, September 24, 2009, in a test flight. A pilot rescued, the other pilot is still missing. Rafale, Dassault Aviation is produced, is the most advanced fighter aircraft in France. Brazil has been negotiating to buy the plane, which is the first export orders.

The accident occurred about 30 km from the city of Perpignan, southwestern France. A spokesman for Dassault company was not willing to comment about the accident. "The planes were training mission, not the operational mission. Search was conducted on a pilot who lost it," said army spokesman. A rescue ship, a civilian helicopter and two military aircraft participated in the search.