Tomblaine skydiving plane crash kills 11 near Nancy
A skydiving plane crash in Tomblaine, France, killed 11 people on June 28, 2026, as the aircraft, used by a parachuting school, went down shortly after takeoff. The deadly Tomblaine skydiving plane crash claimed the pilot plus five instructors and five students, and some relatives at the airfield witnessed the impact. (apnews.com)
Tomblaine skydiving plane crash kills 11
Emergency services responded to a crash near the Nancy‑Essey aerodrome at about 11:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, where a small aircraft used by a parachuting club came down in a grassy area close to the runway. Local officials confirmed all 11 people on board were killed, and the wreckage landed close to roads and residential areas without causing ground casualties. (investing.com)
Victims included instructors, students and the pilot
Authorities identified the victims as the plane’s pilot, five parachuting instructors and five students who were preparing for tandem jumps. Officials said the flight was operating as part of an introductory skydiving session run by a local parachuting school. Transport and regional officials described the loss as one of the deadliest recent accidents in French recreational aviation. (investing.com)
Families at Nancy‑Essey airfield witnessed the crash
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez and local officials said relatives had gathered at the airfield to watch the jumps and that some family members saw the aircraft fall. Witnesses reported that engine noise stopped abruptly during climbout and the aircraft plunged vertically, leaving relatives and bystanders in shock at the scene. (apnews.com)
Authorities secure site and order formal inquiries
Police and emergency crews quickly cordoned off the area around the crash site to allow forensic teams and investigators access, and authorities urged the public to avoid the zone. The Paris public prosecutor’s office and air‑transport gendarmerie units were reported to be involved in the initial judicial inquiry, while safety agencies and specialist teams began collecting wreckage and witness statements. (theweek.in)
Aircraft type and preliminary lines of inquiry
Aero‑aviation reporting identified the aircraft as a Pilatus PC‑6 Turbo Porter registered in Germany and operated on behalf of a local skydiving operator. Early witness accounts and on‑scene observations prompted investigators to examine the possibility of an engine failure or mechanical problem, although officials cautioned that no definitive cause had been established. The French Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses (BEA) and other technical units were expected to play a central role in the safety investigation. (aerotime.aero)
Local and national reaction to the accident
Regional leaders described the crash as a tragedy for the Nancy area and expressed condolences to the families of those who died, with calls for full transparency as the probe proceeds. Transport and safety officials said they would review operational procedures for parachuting flights as investigators work to determine whether procedural, mechanical or human factors contributed to the accident. (apnews.com)
The investigation remains active, with forensic teams combing the wreckage, authorities interviewing witnesses and prosecutors overseeing judicial procedures as technical specialists analyze the aircraft and its maintenance records.
