Fleet
European Aviation Safety Agency Grounds Global Fleet of Elixir Trainers Following Crash
Following a fatal crash in France, regulatory authorities have suspended flight operations for all Elixir aircraft across the globe.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency implemented an emergency directive that suspended all operations for the French two-seat trainer fleet starting October 3. The grounding order followed an incident on October 1 where a factory airplane went down close to the runway at Rochefort Charente-Maritime Airport, resulting in the deaths of two company pilots. Elixir Aircraft responded by releasing Alert Service Bulletin ASB-633-005-R01 to ground all of its airplanes, prompting the immediate regulatory action from the European agency.
French accident investigators launched a formal inquiry into the tragedy. According to reports from the Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety, a team consisting of one first-information investigator and three additional investigators deployed to the crash site. The involved airframe was identified as F-WGAZ. Authorities have not yet determined a precise technical malfunction behind the event, and the investigation into the cause remains active.
The emergency directive applies universally to every serial number within the fleet. Officials stated that the safety evaluation necessitated immediate notification and publication without undergoing standard consultation procedures. While flights are currently prohibited, the directive permits the European authority to authorize alternative methods of compliance if they are suitably substantiated. No timeline has been provided regarding when the suspension might be lifted or what specific issues investigators are examining.
Established in 2015 in La Rochelle, France, the manufacturer built the composite machine specifically for professional flight training. The design secured certification under EASA CS 23 in 2020, followed by FAR Part 23 certification in July 2025. United States deliveries commenced this spring and summer. More than 60 examples are currently flying internationally, while the broader order book encompasses more than 300 units through firm commitments, preorders, and letters of intent.
Early American customers include Florida-based Cirrus Aviation with an order for 10 units, along with a significant preorder from Sierra Charlie Aviation in Arizona. The aircraft features a spin-resistant wing alongside protective safety equipment such as a ballistic parachute and an explosive-suppressant foam-lined fuel tank. The manufacturer constructs the airframe using a single-piece carbon fiber methodology referred to as Carbon OneShot.