11 Die in Skydiving Plane Crash Near Nancy, France

A small aircraft carrying skydivers crashed shortly after takeoff near Nancy, France, on Sunday, June 28, killing all 11 people on board. The German-registered Pilatus PC-6 went down on Salvador Allende Street in the town of Tomblaine at approximately 11 a.m. local time.

Authorities confirmed the aircraft had taken off from the Nancy-Essey aerodrome and was on a skydiving training flight. The prefect of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department, Yves Séguy, stated that the victims included the pilot, five instructors, and five students who were participating in introductory tandem jumps. While some local media reported the students were self-employed nurses from the Nancy area on a first-time skydiving excursion, officials have not publicly confirmed the identities or professions of the deceased.

Emergency services, including firefighters and medical teams, responded immediately to the scene. Police established a wide security perimeter, citing a significant risk of explosion from the crashed aircraft, and repeatedly urged the public to strictly avoid the area around Salvador Allende Street to allow unimpeded access for rescue and investigative operations.