Eleven people were killed after a skydiving aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff near Nancy in eastern France on Sunday, marking one of the country’s deadliest recent general aviation accidents. The aircraft came down in the town of Tomblaine, close to Nancy-Essey Airport, killing the pilot and all 10 passengers on board.
French authorities said the aircraft was operating a parachuting flight when it crashed only moments after departure. According to local officials, the victims included five skydiving instructors, five first-time participants and the pilot. Emergency services confirmed that there were no survivors.
The aircraft, identified by French media as a German-registered Pilatus PC-6, crashed approximately 300 metres from the runway in a grassy area close to residential buildings, a shopping centre and a cycle path. Officials said the aircraft narrowly avoided causing casualties on the ground.
Investigation launched into cause of the crash
Yves Séguy, prefect of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department, said the aircraft appeared to suffer a malfunction before plunging almost vertically to the ground shortly after takeoff from Nancy-Essey Airport. He noted that emergency services were deployed immediately and described the tragedy as particularly devastating for the victims’ families, some of whom witnessed the accident from the airfield.
The regional operational crisis centre was activated immediately after the crash. Firefighters, police officers, emergency medical teams and aviation specialists secured the area while investigators began documenting the wreckage and interviewing witnesses.
Laurent Nuñez, France’s Interior Minister, travelled to the crash site to support local authorities and monitor the emergency response. Police also urged residents to avoid the area to allow unrestricted access for rescue crews and investigators.
Technical investigators examine wreckage
A technical investigation has been opened by France’s air transport authorities and the prosecutor’s office in Nancy. Specialists from the Air Transport Gendarmerie are examining the aircraft to determine what caused the fatal accident.
Authorities have not yet identified the cause of the crash. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft’s maintenance history, engine performance, weather conditions and pilot actions before issuing preliminary findings.
The accident has shocked the local community because the aircraft crashed only a short distance from homes and businesses. Officials said that had the aircraft fallen only a few metres away, the disaster could have resulted in additional casualties on the ground.
Skydiving flights operate regularly from Nancy-Essey Airport, with parachute experiences remaining a popular recreational activity in the region. Sunday’s tragedy has prompted renewed attention on safety procedures for light aircraft used in parachuting operations while investigators work to determine exactly what happened.
