A civilian plane transporting skydivers went down near Tomblaine in eastern France on Sunday, killing all 11 people aboard, according to local officials. The crash ranks among the deadliest light-aircraft incidents in recent French history.
Yves Seguy, prefect of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department, confirmed that the victims comprised five instructors, five students, and the pilot. He added that no one on the ground was hurt.
The German-registered aircraft crashed onto a grassy area beside the runway at Nancy-Essey aerodrome, which sits near a residential district and two roadways, an AFP journalist reported.
The cause of the accident remains unclear.
Counseling and medical personnel have been deployed to support the victims’ families who were at the airfield, as well as other witnesses.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Amaury Lacote stated that a technical inquiry has been launched.
Police have taken to social media platform X to urge the public to stay away from the airport vicinity so that emergency responders can access the area unimpeded.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez is scheduled to visit the crash site later this afternoon, his office said.