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Families watched in horror as a skydiving plane crashed in France moments after takeoff on Sunday, killing all 11 people on board, according to French officials.
The single-engine Pilatus PC-6 crashed shortly after taking off from Nancy-Essey airfield, near the city of Nancy, in northeast France. Authorities said the victims included five skydiving instructors, five first-time jumpers and the pilot.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said relatives of some victims saw the plane fall from the sky.
“Some of the families of the victims witnessed the fall of the aircraft with their own eyes,” said Núñez. “So there is tremendous emotion and even greater psychological trauma.”
SKYDIVING PLANE CRASH IN MISSOURI THAT KILLED ALL 12 ON BOARD IS A ‘DEVASTATING LOSS,’ COMPANY SAYS
A police officer stands near the site where a skydiving plane crashed in Tomblaine, northeastern France, killing all 11 people on board, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonin Utz)
Meurthe-et-Moselle prefect Yves Séguy said the plane suffered an apparent malfunction and “fell almost vertically”, narrowly avoiding a populated area after crashing about 300 meters from the runway.
Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed that the plane banked to the left after takeoff before disappearing from radar less than a minute into the flight.
France’s Bureau of Investigation and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA), the country’s aviation accident investigation agency, said the security investigation in the accident involving the Pilatus PC-6. The agency said four investigators and one first responder investigator were sent to the scene.
SKYDIVING PLANE CRASH IN MISSOURI THAT KILLED ALL 12 ON BOARD IS A ‘DEVASTATING LOSS,’ COMPANY SAYS
Forensic technicians examine a skydiving plane that crashed in Tomblaine, northeastern France, killing all 11 people on board, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonin Utz)
Authorities have not determined what caused the crash, and officials cautioned that it is too early to speculate as investigators examine the wreckage.
Nancy Mayor Mathieu Klein called the accident “an immense shock that has plunged the greater Nancy area into mourning” in a Facebook post, offering condolences to the families of the victims and those who witnessed the tragedy.
Forensic technicians examine a skydiving plane that crashed in Tomblaine, northeastern France, killing all 11 people on board, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonin Utz)
Klein said he visited the crash site along with regional officials and praised the “remarkable professionalism and commitment” of rescue, medical and security personnel. He also announced that Greater Nancy would open a meeting space at the Marcel Picot stadium where residents could pay their respects and show solidarity with the families of the victims.
SKYDIVING PLANE CRASH IN MISSOURI THAT KILLED ALL 12 ON BOARD IS A ‘DEVASTATING LOSS,’ COMPANY SAYS
The prefecture of Meurthe-et-Moselle said it activated a public information center on Sunday afternoon to help victims’ families and said the hotline would reopen on Monday morning as recovery efforts and the investigation continue.
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Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot called the accident the worst in the country. Deadliest skydiving aviation accident in approximately three decades.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
