TOMBLAINE, France, June 28 (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A small civilian skydiving plane crashed in the town of Tomblaine in northeastern France on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of all 11 people on board. The incident occurred shortly after the aircraft departed from the Nancy-Essey airfield at approximately 11:00 AM local time.
The victims included one pilot, five skydiving instructors, and five students. Local reports identified the students as a group of nurses who were participating in their first tandem jumping session. Regional Prefect Yves Séguy confirmed that the aircraft crashed onto a bicycle path near a local shopping center and a residential area. While the site was near populated housing, authorities noted that no bystanders on the ground sustained injuries.
The aircraft, a Swiss-manufactured Pilatus PC-6 single-engine turboprop, was registered in Germany and operated by a local parachutist school. Known in aviation circles as the “Jeep of the Skies,” the model is typically recognized for its reliability and short takeoff capabilities. Data from Flightradar24 indicated that the plane banked sharply to the left before it plunged vertically into the ground.
Witnesses at the scene reported that the engine noise ceased abruptly while the aircraft was climbing. Observers noted that there were no signs of fire or mid-air explosions before the impact. Regarding the proximity of the crash to residential homes, Séguy noted:
“Give or take a few meters and the accident could have caused collateral casualties.”
Following the crash, local police established a strict security perimeter around the wreckage due to concerns regarding potential fuel hazards. Emergency medical and psychological crisis units were deployed to the aerodrome to provide assistance to the families of the victims, many of whom had been present at the airfield to watch the jump.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez and Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot traveled to the site to oversee the management of the emergency operations. The deputy public prosecutor in Nancy has opened an official technical investigation into the crash. Authorities are currently working to determine the precise cause of the malfunction, specifically examining the possibility of mechanical failure, human error, or potential atmospheric factors, as the region recently experienced record-high temperatures.
