All eleven people aboard a skydiving aircraft were killed when the plane crashed shortly after takeoff in northeastern France on Sunday.
The single‑engine Pilatus PC‑6 departed from the Nancy‑Essey Airfield near the city of Nancy and fell within minutes of leaving the runway.
Among the dead were five skydiving instructors, five first‑time jumpers and the pilot.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said several relatives watched the aircraft descend, describing the incident as a source of profound emotional trauma for the families.
Meurthe‑et‑Moselle Prefect Yves Séguy reported that an apparent malfunction caused the aircraft to drop almost vertically, narrowly missing a populated area and coming to rest about 300 yards from the runway.
Flight‑tracking data indicated the plane banked left after takeoff before disappearing from radar less than a minute into the flight.
The national aviation accident investigation agency opened a safety inquiry, deploying four investigators and a first‑response specialist to the crash site.
Officials emphasized that the cause of the crash remains undetermined and cautioned against speculation while the wreckage is examined.
Nancy’s mayor described the event as an immense shock that has plunged the Greater Nancy area into mourning, and he praised the professionalism of rescue, medical and security teams.
The city will provide a gathering space at Marcel Picot Stadium where residents can pay respects and support the victims’ families.
The prefecture activated a public information center on Sunday afternoon to assist families, with a hotline scheduled to reopen on Monday as recovery and investigation efforts continue.
Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot noted that the accident represents the deadliest skydiving aviation incident in the country in roughly three decades.
