11 Killed After Skydiving Plane Crashes in Eastern France

Sun Sep 06 2026 04:23:51 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A light aircraft carrying skydivers crashed in Tomblaine, eastern France, killing all 11 passengers and the pilot. Investigation is underway.

Eleven people died in a crash of a light aircraft used by a parachutist school in Tomblaine, eastern France. The flight, which was taking off for a first‑time tandem jump, veered out of control and hit the ground near a residential area. The victims included five instructors and five novice skydivers. French officials have launched an investigation, and medical and psychological teams are supporting families wounded by the tragedy.

11 Killed After Skydiving Plane Crashes in Eastern France

A light aircraft used by a parachutist school crashed on Sunday in the town of Tomblaine, killing the pilot, five instructors and five first‑time skydivers. The flight left Nancy‑Essey airfield at about 11:00 local time and the wreckage fell near the edge of the airfield, close to a housing estate and a shopping centre.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced a full investigation into the crash, saying the accident occurred “in an unexplained manner.” Witnesses who were present at the airfield to observe tandem jumps saw the aircraft veer right before it disappeared from view. The pilot and the passengers were all killed instantly when the plane hit the ground almost vertically.

The tragedy has triggered strong emotional reactions among community members. Mayor Hervé Feron of Tomblaine noted that the crash was “in an entire unexplained form,” and emphasised that the impact could have caused collateral casualties had it fallen a few metres further, according to prefect Yves Seguy. The incident has stirred considerable psychological trauma among relatives and witnesses, prompting both medical and psychological support teams to arrive at the site.

Half of the deceased were nurses, according to Thierry Pechey, president of the local nursing organisation. They were colleagues who had decided to partake in a first‑time skydiving jump and were likely looking for a respite from the ongoing heatwave that has gripped the region. The crash is the deadliest private‑plane accident in French history, excluding military and commercial flights, reports the national BEA aviation safety agency.

A witness, who declined to be identified, recounted observing the aircraft veer to the right as he drove past. He heard a sound and later helped extinguish the wreckage which caught fire. He stated that the impact was so violent that there was no sign of survivors.

While weather conditions could have played a role, investigators have not yet speculated on the cause before a formal inquiry is conducted. The region was under an amber weather warning for high temperatures on the day of the crash, amid a prolonged heatwave affecting France.