France: 11 killed in civilian plane crash

Eleven people died when a civilian aircraft crashed near the northeastern French town of Tomblaine on Sunday. The aircraft was carrying a group of skydivers at the time of the incident.

According to regional authorities, the victims included 10 passengers, five students and five instructors, along with the pilot. The prefecture confirmed that no bystanders were among the casualties. The plane crashed in a grassy area near the runway of the Nancy-Essey aerodrome.

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There were no bystanders among the victims.

Local authorities have urged the public to avoid the area around the airport. The aircraft was reportedly registered in Germany. The cause of the crash remains unclear, but officials noted that the aircraft appeared to sustain damage before plunging vertically.

An investigation into the technical aspects of the crash has been launched. The Interior Minister was reportedly en route to the scene. The proximity of the crash site to a shopping center was noted, with officials stating that the accident could have caused collateral casualties had it occurred just meters away.

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