French authorities are responding to a major aviation incident after a civilian aircraft carrying skydivers crashed Sunday morning in Tomblaine, near the city of Nancy in northeastern France.
The plane took off from Nancy-Essey airfield around 11:00 a.m. local time for what local media described as a skydiving initiation flight. It went down shortly after takeoff in the commune of Tomblaine, according to the Meurthe-et-Moselle prefecture and regional outlet L'Est Républicain.
Emergency services, including firefighters and police, rushed to the scene and established a security perimeter due to the risk of explosion from aircraft wreckage. The regional prefect has arrived on site to oversee the response and initial investigation.
At least 11 people were killed, including 5 skydiving instructors/monitors, 5 students (on an introductory "baptême de parachutisme" flight) and the pilot.
The Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses pour la sécurité de l’aviation civile (BEA), France’s civil aviation investigation authority, is expected to lead a formal probe into the cause of the crash. No details have been released yet on the aircraft type or possible mechanical or other factors.
This incident comes as a shock to the local aviation community, which uses Nancy-Essey for general and recreational flying, including skydiving activities.
Further updates will be provided as authorities release more information. Our thoughts are with those affected by this tragedy.
