Pilot, Skydiving Instructors and Students Killed in France Plane Crash
A recreational skydiving trip ended in tragedy on Sunday after a light aircraft crashed shortly after taking off in northeastern France, leaving no survivors.
The victims comprised the pilot, five skydiving instructors and five trainee jumpers who were set to participate in tandem parachute jumps.
Authorities said the aircraft departed from Nancy-Essey Airport before encountering trouble almost immediately.
It reportedly veered to one side before losing altitude and crashing near the runway less than a minute after takeoff.
Officials said the plane narrowly missed nearby residential buildings, preventing what could have been an even greater disaster.
Emergency crews quickly secured the scene while counsellors were deployed to support grieving relatives, some of whom witnessed the crash unfold.
The aircraft involved was identified as a Pilatus PC-6, a single-engine plane widely used for skydiving operations.
French authorities have opened an investigation into the incident to determine what caused the aircraft to fall from the sky.
Initial reports suggest the plane may have suffered a technical failure shortly after becoming airborne.
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