A French Mirage 2000D fighter jet, operated by the French Air and Space Force, came down during a training flight, and emergency services were mobilised on Tuesday evening.
The Air and Space Force confirmed the accident, according to local radio station Ici Lorraine.
The plane went down at 9pm near its air base on the outskirts of Nancy, in the commune of Rogéville, about 15 kilometres west of Pont-à-Mousson.
At least one crew member has died. Authorities continued searching overnight for the second crew member, who remains unaccounted for.
Many local residents reported hearing an explosion and then seeing a fireball streak across the sky at around 10.30pm, Ici Lorraine reported.
A press conference is scheduled for 9am on Wednesday, with further updates expected later in the morning.
