All 11 killed in skydiving aircraft crash in France
A light aircraft carrying skydivers crashed on Sunday, June 28, near the city of Nancy in eastern France. All 11 individuals on board were killed in the accident, regional authorities in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department announced, according to RFI.
The aircraft came down in the commune of Tomblaine, near the Nancy-Essey airfield. Local newspaper L'Est Républicain reported that the flight was transporting a group of individuals registered to perform their very first parachute jumps.
Official casualty details
Following initial reports of the tragedy, the Prefect of Meurthe-et-Moselle, Yves Seguy, confirmed that there were no survivors. The 11 fatalities include the pilot, five flight instructors, and five novice skydivers.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez is expected to arrive at the crash site later today.
The downed aircraft was a German-registered Pilatus, a turboprop model frequently utilized by aviation clubs for skydiving operations.
Investigation launched
Deputy Prosecutor Amaury Lacôte announced that the judicial authorities have ordered the immediate mobilization of specialized teams.
The forensic identification unit and the air transport gendarmerie brigade have taken over the site to initiate a comprehensive investigation into the technical and operational causes of the crash.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
