NANCY: A skydiving flight ended in catastrophe on Monday when a German-registered PC-6 Pilatus aircraft crashed in the eastern region of Nancy, killing all 11 people on board, authorities confirmed.
The single-engine turboprop plane went down just minutes after takeoff, according to news agency reports. The aircraft, which bore German registration marks, had been rented by a private company for an introductory parachute jump session. All passengers and crew perished in the impact, with no survivors reported at the scene.
Among the victims were several individuals who were set to experience tandem skydiving for the first time, according to initial reports. Some local media outlets also indicated that training nurses were among those on board, though their exact role in the flight has not been officially clarified.
The plane, a versatile utility aircraft commonly used for parachuting operations, crashed in a sparsely populated area east of Nancy, sparing ground structures from damage. Emergency responders quickly secured the site, but there were no survivors to rescue.
French aviation authorities have launched a full-scale investigation to determine the precise cause of the accident. Investigators will examine the aircraft’s maintenance records, weather conditions at the time of departure, and pilot communications in the minutes leading up to the tragedy.
The identities of the deceased have not yet been released, pending notification of next of kin. Officials have stated that the process of formal identification is underway and that further details will be provided as the inquiry progresses.
The local community and skydiving organizations have expressed profound shock at the loss, as the region is known for its active recreational aviation scene. The private company that chartered the flight has not yet issued a public statement.
