A French Air Force Alphajet military training plane, similar to one depicted, was allegedly borrowed by air force Gen. Richard Reboul for weekend trips to his country home. The French Defense Ministry launched an investigation into the allegation. Photo by Tim Felce/Wikipedia

June 28 (UPI) -- The French air force is investigating reports its acting chief used a fighter jet to travel to his weekend country house, the French defense minister said.

The French-language newspaper Canard Enchaine reported this week that Gen. Richard Reboul routinely used an Alphajet training plane to fly from Bordeaux to his country property 375 miles away, the BBC said Wednesday. The French newspaper added that Reboul, chief of the French air force pilots' training school, has been making the 1-hour trip since August 2016.


Florence Parly, France's new defense minister, ordered the air force to conduct an immediate investigation, saying in a statement that "Information about an abusive use of air force assets by a senior military official has been handed to the minister of defense." The statement added that disciplinary proceedings would begin if an "abuse of power" was found.

The office of Gen. Andre Lanata, the French air force chief of staff, also began an investigation.