11 killed after skydiving plane crashes in eastern France
A civilian aircraft carrying skydivers crashed in the town of Tomblaine in eastern France on Sunday, killing all 11 people on board, local authorities said.
The victims include the pilot and 10 passengers – five students and five instructors – according to local officials. The aircraft was operated by a parachutist school and had taken off from Nancy-Essey airfield.
French transport minister Philippe Tabarot and interior minister Laurent Nunez travelled to the scene, with Tabarot describing the crash as a “terrible tragedy”.
Yves Seguy, prefect of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department, confirmed that no bystanders were injured. The crash occurred in a built-up area near a shopping centre.
“The plane fell almost vertically, in the immediate vicinity of a housing estate, on the edge of the airfield,” Seguy told broadcaster BFM. He added that it was fortunate there were no additional victims.
Half of the skydivers who lost their lives were nurses, according to Thierry Pechey, president of the local branch of the Order of Independent Nurses.
Local officials said relatives of the victims were present at the airfield when the crash happened. Police have urged the public to avoid the area around the airport.
An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the crash.
