A retired air force general and his passenger have died after their biplane crashed in Londe-les-Maures, a popular tourist area on the French Riviera between Toulon and St Tropez. Emergency crews responded to the scene this morning.
Victims identified
Patrick Féron, a retired air force general who was piloting the plane, died along with his passenger, a senior midwife at the Fréjus Saint-Raphaël hospital. Féron was also vice-president of the association Les Ailes de la Reconnaissance (Wings of Recognition), created in 2020 following the health crisis to thank healthcare workers by offering them introductory flights.
The plane took off from Cuers airfield, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, before crashing around 20km further south in the Londe-les-Maures commune, according to Le Figaro.
Investigation underway
The Var fire department has not provided details over the circumstances of the tragedy, only confirming that they responded to the incident. Authorities said the reasons for the crash remain undetermined.
In a press release following the incident, the Var prefecture said Féron was a former fighter pilot and squadron commander who had also headed flight safety for the Air Force. Officials said an investigation had been launched into the crash by the Nice Air Transport Gendarmerie Brigade.
Association president speaks
The president of Les Ailes de la Reconnaissance, Daniel Muraro, told local press: "The plane was in perfect condition, there was fuel, the weather was perfect. He (the pilot) had flown it the day before. Everything was going very well. Then he took off and didn't come back..." He added that the crash happened about 15 minutes into what should have been a 30-minute flight.
Londe-les-Maures is a coastal commune that sits on the French Riviera at the foot of the Massif des Maures mountain range, between the towns of Hyères and Le Lavandou. It is popular as a relaxed, less glitzy alternative to the nearby Côte d'Azur, as well as for its long sandy beaches, scenic walking routes and vineyards, which produce renowned Côtes de Provence AOC wines. Its large marina also serves as a convenient departure spot for boats heading out to the Golden Islands, an archipelago famous for its rocky cliffs, pine forests and crystal-clear waters.
