Chasseur frôle une maison et endommage le toit : un retraité contraint de payer 1 500 euros de réparations
An octogenarian in Virieu-le-Grand, in the Ain department of eastern France, was left to pay for roof repairs himself after a French Air and Space Force Rafale reportedly flew at very low altitude over his home during an exercise in July and blew around 20 roof tiles into his garden. The incident, reported by Le Progrès, caused visible damage around the chimney area, displaced several square meters of tiles, and damaged a roof window shutter. The resident said he heard a metallic cracking noise, then found tile fragments scattered across his property, with the farthest piece landing 18 meters away.
The repair bill came to about 1,500 euros, including work by a carpenter to rebuild part of the under-roof structure. The homeowner said he was unable to obtain insurance coverage for the damage, and his complaint was dismissed because authorities concluded that no offense had been committed. According to the article, military aircraft are allowed to conduct low-altitude flights as part of training operations, which meant the flyover itself did not constitute a legal violation.
The man expressed frustration that he would have had to bear the full cost even if the damage had been greater. He believed at first that a part of the aircraft or even a satellite fragment might have struck the roof because of the extent of the damage. The Ministry of the Armed Forces said people who believe they have suffered damage linked to a military aircraft can pursue legal remedies through the appropriate services.
