At least 11 people have died after a civilian aircraft carrying a group of skydivers crashed near the eastern French town of Tomblaine on Sunday.
The aircraft reportedly went down close to the local airport, triggering a large-scale emergency response as rescue workers and investigators rushed to the scene. Authorities immediately established a security perimeter and urged residents to stay away from the area.
According to local media, the aircraft belonged to a parachuting school and was transporting participants on a skydiving trip when the fatal crash occurred.
Confirming the tragedy, the prefecture said all 11 people on board lost their lives.
“The victims include the pilot, five student skydivers and five instructors,” the prefecture said in a statement.
French police also appealed to the public to avoid the crash site to allow emergency personnel and investigators to carry out their work without interference.
The French Interior Ministry also announced that the country’s Interior Minister was travelling to the scene to assess the situation and coordinate the government’s response.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the crash, while investigations into the incident are ongoing.
