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France crash: Alpha Jet hits home for disabled in Vouvray | France crash: Alpha Jet hits home for disabled in Vouvray |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A French air force jet has crashed into a home for disabled people in central France, killing one person and leaving several others injured, one seriously. | A French air force jet has crashed into a home for disabled people in central France, killing one person and leaving several others injured, one seriously. |
French media said the Alpha Jet aircraft, which was on a training flight, came down in the town of Vouvray near Tours at about 17:30 local time (16:30 GMT). | French media said the Alpha Jet aircraft, which was on a training flight, came down in the town of Vouvray near Tours at about 17:30 local time (16:30 GMT). |
The two crew members had ejected and were unhurt, the air force said. | The two crew members had ejected and were unhurt, the air force said. |
Uninjured residents of the home are being moved to new lodgings. | Uninjured residents of the home are being moved to new lodgings. |
The 63-year-old resident who was killed had lived at the home for several years, said Health Minister Marisol Touraine after visiting the scene of the accident. | |
About 75 people live at home. The plane hit one of two buildings housing female residents. | About 75 people live at home. The plane hit one of two buildings housing female residents. |
A witness quoted by the local Nouvelle Republique newspaper, named as Sebastien, described a "very loud noise" and a "huge fireball". | A witness quoted by the local Nouvelle Republique newspaper, named as Sebastien, described a "very loud noise" and a "huge fireball". |
He also said he had seen the two crew of the jet descending in parachutes. | He also said he had seen the two crew of the jet descending in parachutes. |
The pilots had made for "a dark area that appeared to be uninhabited," said Col Cyrille Duvivier, commander of air base 705 near Parcay-Melay. | The pilots had made for "a dark area that appeared to be uninhabited," said Col Cyrille Duvivier, commander of air base 705 near Parcay-Melay. |
He said the plane had been on a night training flight with an instructor and trainee pilot on board. | He said the plane had been on a night training flight with an instructor and trainee pilot on board. |
Col Duvivier described the Alpha Jet as a "very reliable design, which has been in service for some 30 years. | Col Duvivier described the Alpha Jet as a "very reliable design, which has been in service for some 30 years. |
"It belongs to a generation of straightforward planes, which have proved themselves," he added. | "It belongs to a generation of straightforward planes, which have proved themselves," he added. |
It is more than 30 years since the last such accident at base 705, according to Le Monde newspaper. | It is more than 30 years since the last such accident at base 705, according to Le Monde newspaper. |