French Navy Rafale Pilot Ejects At Sea during joint training with US Navy

: Posted On Tuesday, 03 July 2012 22:26

Naval Forces News - France, USA

French Navy Rafale Pilot Ejects At Sea during joint training with US Navy

On July 2nd 2012 off the Spanish coast in the Mediterranean, during air combat training with an F18 fighter from aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower, the pilot of a Rafale fighter belonging to "Flotille 12F" operating from French nuclear powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle had to eject.

He was recovered by a U.S. Navy helicopter and was transferred aboard the French aircraft carrier where he received first care by the medical team.

An investigation was opened to determine the circumstances and causes of this accident.

Aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and her escort left Toulon on May 30, for a training deployment in the Mediterranean and Atlantic, which ends July 5, 2012.

French Navy F-2 Rafale M and US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft
Archive picture
(Picture: US Navy)

USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, At Sea (NNS) -- While conducting coalition training in the Mediterranean Sea July 2, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) received a call of a downed French aircraft operating from the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R 91).

Upon notification, a Carrier Airwing 7 airborne helicopter from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 5, embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, was dispatched to provide rescue and assistance.

Once HS-5 arrived at the scene, they retrieved and transported the pilot to the Charles de Gaulle for medical treatment.

Sources: French Navy and US Navy