A civilian skydiving aircraft crashed in the eastern French town of Tomblaine on Sunday, June 28, 2026, killing all 11 people on board.
The victims include a pilot, five skydiving students, and five instructors from a local parachuting school.
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The aircraft, a 35-year-old Germany-registered Pilatus PC-6, plunged shortly after taking off from the Nancy-Essey airfield at approximately 11:00 AM local time.
Emergency responders deployed to the crash site, located inside a residential area near a shopping center.
Regional prefect Yves Séguy confirmed that no bystanders on the ground were injured despite the impact location.
Local authorities noted that family members of the victims were present at the airfield when the accident occurred.
French transport minister Philippe Tabarot expressed condolences as he traveled to the site alongside interior minister Laurent Nuñez, calling the incident a "terrible tragedy."
According to reports by BFM, regional officials indicated that half of the deceased skydivers were professional nurses participating in an initiation ritual.
The local prosecutor's office has launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the aircraft damage prior to the plunge.
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"The plane fell almost vertically, in the immediate vicinity of a housing estate, on the edge of the airfield," stated Yves Seguy, the prefect of Meurthe-et-Moselle.
Emergency units cordoned off the wreckage, which came to a stop directly in front of a residential home.
Séguy emphasized how close the aircraft came to hitting populated structures.
"The plane, which was transporting 11 people, fell suddenly immediately next to the aerodrome. There were no collateral victims," said Yves Séguy.
Psychological support teams have been established at the airfield to assist grieving relatives and witnesses.
Officials noted the disaster follows a similar skydiving aviation accident in Missouri earlier this month.
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"Give or take a few meters and the accident could have caused collateral casualties," added Yves Seguy.
