A pilot has been killed after two Eurofighter jets collided mid-air in northern Germany.

The jets were not armed but were taking part in an air combat mission with a third Eurofighter plane, the German air force said.

Both pilots ejected successfully and parachuted to the ground. One was later found alive in a forest, police officers said.

But officers told broadcaster n-tv that the other pilot had been killed.

The pilot of the third jet observed and reported the collision, the German air force said.

Pilot killed in Germany after two fighter jets collide in mid-air Show all 5 1 /5 Pilot killed in Germany after two fighter jets collide in mid-air Pilot killed in Germany after two fighter jets collide in mid-air A file photo shows two Eurofighter jets of the German Air Force AFP/Getty Pilot killed in Germany after two fighter jets collide in mid-air Two smoke columns rise near the village of Nossentiner Huette in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany after two German Eurofighter jets crashed into one another on 24 June EPA Pilot killed in Germany after two fighter jets collide in mid-air A police helicopter flies over the site of a crash between two Eurofighter jets of the German Air Force on 24 June AFP/Getty Pilot killed in Germany after two fighter jets collide in mid-air A fire engine attends the scene where a plane crash-landed after two German Eurofighter jets collided in mid-air on 24 June AP Pilot killed in Germany after two fighter jets collide in mid-air A forest offcial stands next to debris from one of the two German Eurofighter jets that crashed into one another on 24 June Reuters

“The pilot of the third Eurofighter... reported that two parachutes descended to the ground,” a spokesperson said.

The planes collided shortly before 2pm on Monday near Lake Mueritz, about 100km north of Berlin.

They then crashed near the Laage military base in the eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, after the two pilots ejected.

A video posted online shortly after the accident showed two plumes of smoke rising from the ground.

The Schweriner Volkszeitung newspaper reported that falling wreckage caused forest fires and may also have hit inhabited areas.

Firefighters have been deployed to tackle any blazes caused by the accident.

Police officers also warned members of the public not to approach the crashed planes, as the wreckage could be dangerous.

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The Eurofighter jets are made by Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo.