A plane crash in eastern France has claimed the lives of 11 people, including the pilot and 10 skydivers, local authorities confirmed on Sunday.
The aircraft, operated by a parachuting school, took off from Nancy-Essey Airfield before crashing in Tomblaine, near the city of Nancy. Officials said five student skydivers and five instructors were among those killed.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, while police cordoned off the area and urged the public to avoid roads around the airport. Authorities confirmed that no bystanders were injured despite the aircraft crashing in a built-up area near a shopping centre.
According to local officials, the plane fell almost vertically, narrowly missing nearby homes. Several relatives of the victims were reportedly waiting at the airfield when the crash occurred.
French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot described the incident as a “terrible tragedy” and travelled to the crash site alongside Interior Minister Laurent Nunez. Officials have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
The fatal accident has shocked the local community and the French aviation sector, with authorities pledging a full investigation into the disaster.
