According to the France 3 broadcaster, a parachute has been found at the site of the crash. The search operation to find the crew members is ongoing, the TV channel added.
The bomber reportedly disappeared from radars at around 11:00 a.m. local time (10:00 GMT) on Wednesday morning after taking off from the Nancy-Ochey air base with two crew members aboard. It vanished when flying over the mountains in the eastern French region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comte, close to the country's border with Switzerland.
BREAKING Debris have been found but pilots (man and woman) are still missing https://t.co/GOmW21XmE6
— AIRLIVE (@airlivenet) January 9, 2019
The information about the bomber's disappearance was later confirmed by the French Defense Ministry. According to them, the bomber was carrying out a training flight when the incident occurred.
A Mirage 2000D fighter jet with two on board vanished from radars in East of France https://t.co/PEltfim72b via @airlivenet #France pic.twitter.com/LO8HHe1Ym5
— Liveuamap (@Liveuamap) January 9, 2019