What happened
During a coordinated training maneuver, three Douglas A-26 Invader aircraft belonging to the Groupe de Bombardement 2/91 Guyenne were operating out of Cazaux AFB. The formation was intended to conduct a combined exercise alongside two other aircraft of the same type. During the mission, a mid-air collision occurred involving all three planes in the formation.
In the immediate aftermath of the impact, one member of the flight crew managed to successfully eject from his aircraft before it struck the ground. However, the remaining two aircraft crashed into a nearby field. The accident resulted in seven fatalities among the crews involved.
Findings
The exact sequence of events leading to the mid-air impact remains unclear, as the specific circumstances surrounding the collision have not been fully determined.