Eleven people have been killed after a skydiving aircraft crashed near the French city of Nancy in a tragedy that has shocked the local community.
The plane came down in Tomblaine, in the Meurthe-et-Moselle region, shortly after taking off from Nancy-Essey aerodrome.
Emergency services rushed to the scene as officials confirmed that everyone on board the aircraft was killed, including the pilot.
The victims included a group of skydivers made up of students and instructors, according to local authorities. Reports said those on board included five trainees and five experienced instructors.
Witnesses described a major emergency response as police, firefighters and medical teams secured the area around the crash site.
Three people were reportedly thrown from the aircraft during the impact, while officials warned that the situation could have been even more catastrophic.
Meurthe-et-Moselle prefect Yves Séguy said no one on the ground was injured, adding that the crash narrowly avoided causing further casualties.
A security perimeter was established around the crash site, with police urging members of the public to stay away to allow emergency crews to work.
Authorities said the aircraft was a Pilatus plane registered in Germany — a type commonly used for parachute operations.
⚠️ BREAKING: A civilian plane carrying a skydiving group has crashed just after takeoff in Tomblaine near Nancy, France.
Authorities confirm all 11 people on board—including pilot, 5 instructors, and 5 students—have died in the crash. pic.twitter.com/0PQvKyuOhO
— GeoTechWar (@geotechwar) June 28, 2026
The cause of the crash remains unknown, with investigators expected to examine the wreckage and flight information as part of an official inquiry.
Local officials activated an emergency operations centre to coordinate the response, while France’s Interior Minister is expected to address the incident.
The crash has prompted an outpouring of grief, with many of those involved believed to have been connected to the skydiving and medical communities.
Investigators now face the difficult task of determining what caused the aircraft to fall, as France begins a full investigation into one of the country’s deadliest recent aviation accidents.
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