A tragic aviation incident occurred off the coast of Lavandou, France, when a civil Fouga Magister aircraft crashed into the sea, resulting in the death of its 65-year-old pilot, Didier Berger.

The crash happened just before a scheduled performance by the Patrouille de France, leading to the cancellation of the event.

The aircraft, a subsonic jet without an ejection seat, was owned by a private collector and was highly regarded among aviation enthusiasts.

An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the crash, focusing on potential mechanical failure or a medical issue with the pilot.

This incident follows another aviation tragedy earlier in the week, where two military pilots died in a collision during a training exercise in eastern France.

The aviation community has expressed solidarity and condolences in light of these events.