Plane crash near Nancy: French parachuting federation president sidelined after controversial remarks

Yves-Marie Guillaud, president of the French Parachuting Federation (FFP), has been temporarily removed from his duties for two months following controversial statements made after a tragic plane crash near Nancy. The accident on June 28, in Tomblaine, resulted in the deaths of eleven people.

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After her declarations calling into question the possible fatigue of the pilot and the conditions of use of the aircraft, the president of the French Parachuting Federation, Yves-Marie Guillaud, was sidelined for two months.

The FFP's board of directors made the decision, stating that Guillaud's public comments were inappropriate while the families of the victims were still grieving. The victims included the pilot, five parachutists, and five individuals on a tandem jump. The federation's governing body acknowledged "communication errors" in a statement on Friday, July 3, noting that Guillaud's remarks, though possibly made under emotional stress, were out of place during a period of required solemnity.

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The decision was made by the federation's board of directors, which believes that certain statements were out of place while the families of the victims... were still mourning.

During a press conference the day after the crash, Guillaud had proposed several potential causes for the accident. He suggested the pilot might have been suffering from fatigue, potentially leading to an error. Guillaud also questioned the operational conditions of the Pilatus PC-6 aircraft involved, specifically the decision to carry five tandem pairs, totaling ten passengers plus the pilot. "I've been practicing since 1978 and I've never seen five tandems in a Pilatus. And I'll go further, I didn't even imagine it was possible to put five tandems in a Pilatus," he stated to the press.

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Remarks made under the influence of emotion, but which were not appropriate at a time when solemnity is paramount.

Guillaud's comments sparked significant indignation and backlash within the parachuting and aeronautics communities, both in France and internationally, leading to a wave of criticism on social media. The FFP board opted for a temporary suspension until September 2026 rather than accepting his resignation, believing a resignation would create an unwelcome distraction and harm the federation's relationships with sports ministries and civil aviation authorities. The federation has formally apologized to those affected by the statements.

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I've been practicing since 1978 and I've never seen five tandems in a Pilatus. And I'll go further, I didn't even imagine it was possible to put five tandems in a Pilatus.