The two Super-Etendard jets, made by Dassault Aviation, crashed during a training exercise at around 5.10pm local time 27km north of the town of Morlaix, on the French region's northern coast, the French Navy said.

A spokeswoman for the Defence Ministry said the planes collided during the exercise.

One pilot was able to eject and was recovered "apparently in good health" by a search team, but the second was missing today, the Navy said.

The Australian