“Even 10 years later, such an ordeal, we cannot forget”. A survivor mechanic

Albacete air crash: the families of the victims and the injured of the air base 133 Nancy-Cochéy landed in Spain on Sunday, January 26, 2025. Among them, a survivor mechanic, who came with his son.

Parties this morning from Air Base 133 in Nancy-Coch (Meurthe-et-Moselle), the families of the victims and injured in the Albacete air crash on January 26, 2015 landed in Spain on Sunday, January 26, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.

As soon as descended from the gigantic C 130 J, Yannick Batrel takes a circular look. It is the first time that it has come back, ten years after the accident which left eleven dead including nine French aviators. He immediately recognized the place of the tragedy which carried seven of his colleagues from the BA 133.

The day of the drama, he was a mechanic of armaments on Mirage 2000: “It's always in my head. Even 10 years later, such an ordeal, we can't forget, it can't go like that. We see the friends who were there … me, I'm fine Released, but I think of them “. He wanted to come with his seven and a half -year -old son: “I told him, but here he will better understand, it's important”.

We see the friends who were there … I did well, but I think of them.

Yannick Batrel, mechanic at the BA 133 accident survivor

The Franck Poirot track mechanic was also on the tarmac on the fatal day. He got out with hands and ankle injuries. He still works at BA 133, but left the field for the technical office: “I swapped the tools against the mouse and the keyboard” declares with a bit of humor the one who impresses his colleagues. He remained an accomplished and rewarded sportsman despite his handicaps.

It is also the first time that it has been on site: “I have kept all the memories, because I have not lost knowledge throughout the course of the crash. I have images of the seats that fall on the roof of the building. These are not good memories, but we live With.

The parents of Commander Gildas Tison also made the trip to pay tribute to their son who died at the age of 35 at the helm of his aircraft: “It was ten years ago, but for us, it was as if it was yesterday. It was our eldest son and he had a seven -year -old boy who we took care of, but who suffers a lot Today” Breath Josiane.

For his spouse Gaël, the highlight was the meeting with the families of the two Greek pilots causing the accident: “I wanted to tell them that we had no bitterness. It was the plane that killed its drivers and we collect ourselves today with all the families, because we each have our own pain for our disappeared” .

I wanted to tell them that we had no bitterness.

The father of Commander Gildas Tison to the families of the Greek pilots

“Our son gave everything for his work, it was passionate, but we must not forget the nine victims and the forty injured” concludes Josiane. The place where the Souvenir stele stands is now called the place “Commander Gildastison”.

The Inspector General of the Air and Espace armies, Manuel Alvarez, commissioned by the Ministry of the Armed Forces, made the trip: “The tragedy of Albacete has deeply bruised the air force and space. We have lost nine of our brothers in arms and had many wounded, some very serious. We accompany the bereaved families and our comrades Wounded in their reconstruction (…) I admire their courage and perseverance, because most have resumed a professional activity “.

The tribute ceremony started at 11:50 a.m. to end at 2:15 p.m. in the presence of civil and military authorities. It first took place inside a large hangar and then outside where a crown was deposited by the two French and Greek authorities. Families were also able to deposit wreaths at the foot of the monument built in memory of their relatives who died in the accident.

The accident had made eleven victims including nine French aviators. Seven belonged to the BA 133 in Nancy-Cochéy.