At least 11 people lost their lives after a light aircraft operated by a parachuting school crashed near Tomblaine, close to Nancy in northeastern France, on Sunday. Local authorities confirmed that everyone on board the aircraft died in the accident.
According to officials, the aircraft went down at around 11 am local time. The victims included the pilot, five student skydivers and five instructors who were travelling on the flight. Emergency services rushed to the crash site and launched rescue and recovery operations, while authorities secured the area.
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French media reported that the aircraft belonged to a skydiving school and was carrying a group of parachutists when the crash occurred. Following the incident, police established a security perimeter around the site and urged residents to avoid Rue Salvador Allende to allow emergency vehicles and investigators unhindered access.
Regional broadcaster France 3 Grand Est had earlier warned of a possible explosion risk following the crash. The French Interior Ministry also confirmed that the Interior Minister was travelling to the site to monitor the situation and coordinate the official response.
The exact cause of the crash remains unknown. Aviation authorities have launched an investigation to determine what led to the fatal accident. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft’s condition, weather conditions, maintenance records and other possible factors that may have contributed to the tragedy.
The crash has shocked the local community and the French aviation sector, as authorities work to identify the circumstances surrounding one of the country’s deadliest civilian aviation accidents involving a parachuting aircraft in recent times.
