Eleven dead after plane carrying skydivers crashes in France during take-off: Nurses participating in ‘introductory sky jump’ believed to be among victims

At least eleven people died today after a plane carrying would-be skydivers hoping to take part in their first jump crashed in eastern France.

The tragedy unfolded soon after 11am on Sunday when the German-registered Pilatus PC-6 got into difficulty.

‘The single-engine plane was carrying around eleven people when it came down near Nancy,’ said an investigating source.

‘It had been hired by a company that organises introductory parachute jumps.

‘Those onboard included a pilot, five instructors, and five others who were due to take part in tandem jumps for the first time.’

Yves Séguy, the Prefect of Meurthe-and-Moselle confirmed a ‘provisional death toll of eleven’, saying the number might increase because of victims on the ground. 

There was no immediate indication as to the names or nationalities of those onboard the plane, which local officials say was regularly used for parachute jumps. 

But local media reported that five of the victims of the terrible crash were self-employed nurses from the local area who were going skydiving for the first time. 

Thierry Pechey, president of the Meurthe-et-Moselle Nursing Council, said: ‘An introductory skyjump had been organised for private-practice nurses from Nancy.’

At least eleven people died today after a plane carrying would-be skydivers hoping to take part in their first jump crashed in eastern France

The tragedy unfolded soon after 11am on Sunday when the German-registered Pilatus PC-6 got into difficulty

The plane had taken off a few minutes before from the Nancy-Essey airfield (Pictured)

The plane came down on a road next to an Auchan supermarket in Tomblaine, a suburb of Nancy.

It had taken off a few minutes before from the Nancy-Essey airfield, and began to fall out of the sky during takeoff.

Hervé Feron, the mayor of Tomblaine, said: ‘The plane was taking off when it suddenly crashed. At the moment, there is no explanation for the accident. The crash caused no collateral damage; it occurred on a bike path near a residential area. 

‘The City of Tomblaine is providing a room at a secret location to accommodate the victims’ families. According to my information, there were five instructors, five skydivers, and the pilot on board the plane, which was probably rented in Germany. The Greater Nancy Metropolitan Area is also providing a room for the victims to gather and pay their respects.’ 

He added: ‘I don’t remember a tragedy of this magnitude.’

A spokesman for the Meurth-et-Moselle Prefecture said: ‘The incident occurred in the municipality of Tomblaine involving a civil aircraft that took off from Nancy-Essey aerodrome.’

The area around the crash site was immediately blocked off, as emergency services personnel searched for survivors.

Amaury Lacote, a local prosecutor, announced that a formal investigation will be launched in conjunction with the air transport gendarmerie brigade of Nancy-Metz. 

Following the crash, the area around Tomblaine suffered a power outage. It is not known if this is connected to the crash. 

The plane came down on a road next to an Auchan supermarket in Tomblaine, a suburb of Nancy

Local media reported that five of the victims of the terrible crash were self-employed nurses from the local area who were going skydiving for the first time

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez is expected to arrive on site this afternoon.  

Pilatus PC-6 Porters were made by Swiss firm Pilatus Aircraft, but production ceased in 2022.

In October 2013, a Pilatus carrying ten skydivers – five instructors and five students – and a pilot crashed at Fernelmont, Belgium, and all those on board died.

As this time, the accident happened shortly after takeoff.

And in August 2022, a South African Police Service PC-6 crashed shortly after taking off Rand Airport, South Africa, and all five passengers died during the accident. The pilot was the sole survivor and he was severely injured.