Eleven people killed in plane crash in northeastern France

Eleven people, including 10 parachutists and their pilot, died when a small plane crashed shortly after takeoff in northeastern France. The aircraft, belonging to a parachuting school, was carrying five trainee parachutists and five instructors when it fell from the sky.

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The plane crashed about 300 meters from the runway. The emotion here is intense.

The plane went down near Nancy-Essey airport, approximately 300 meters from the runway, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez. The crash occurred in a residential area, narrowly missing nearby homes. "The emotion here is intense," Nunez told reporters at the scene.

A witness reported that the plane's engine noise suddenly stopped before the aircraft plunged vertically to the ground. No explosion or fire was observed before the crash. The single-engine plane's wreckage landed on a bike path in the residential area.

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The engine noise suddenly stopped, as if it had cut out. He said he saw no fire, explosion or other visible sign of a problem before the crash.

Officials noted that the accident could have resulted in greater casualties had the plane fallen a few meters differently. The extreme heat recorded in the region the previous day was mentioned as a potential factor, though it was not immediately confirmed if it played a role in the incident. The aircraft was reportedly registered in Germany.

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Give or take ​a few ⁠meters and the accident could have caused collateral casualties.