Deadly French Plane Crash
Eleven Confirmed Dead After Civilian Plane Crash in Northeastern France
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Key Points
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Public safety measures included police urging people to avoid the area around Salvador Allende Street to allow emergency responders access to the Tomblaine crash site.
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A press conference was scheduled with representatives from the prosecutor's office, the police and the emergency medical service (SAMU) to provide further updates on the investigation and rescue efforts.
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France 3 Grand Est reported that the human toll is very high and warned of a significant risk that the aircraft could explode, signaling heightened danger at the scene.
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The crash occurred on Sunday morning, with emergency services responding and ongoing rescue operations in Tomblaine, near Nancy.
A civilian aircraft carrying 11 people crashed in Tomblaine, near Nancy in northeastern France, on Sunday morning, killing everyone on board. Reuters confirmed all 11 dead, making it one of the deadliest general aviation accidents in France in recent years.
The plane was carrying a group of local nurses on a first-time skydiving experience — known in France as a "baptism" jump — when it went down near a residential street shortly after takeoff, according to The Independent. Witnesses described the aircraft breaking apart in the air before it plummeted to the ground.
Plane Broke Apart Minutes After Takeoff From Nancy
The aircraft departed Nancy-Essey aerodrome at around 11:00 AM local time, according to France 3 Grand Est. Within minutes, witnesses reported it "shattering into pieces" before crashing near the exit of a local cemetery on Salvador Allende Street in Tomblaine — roughly 1 to 2 kilometers from the runway.
The confirmed dead include 1 pilot, 5 skydiving instructors, and 5 student jumpers, according to regional daily L'Est Républicain. Aviation experts noted the mid-air breakup and reports that three passengers were ejected from the fuselage, suggesting a structural failure or severe aerodynamic event before impact.
Explosion Risk Puts Nearby Neighborhood on High Alert
Firefighters arrived by 11:30 AM and immediately covered the wreckage in foam to prevent an explosion, France 3 Grand Est reported. The plane came down in a residential and commercial zone, raising fears of a fire spreading to nearby buildings.
National police issued an urgent warning urging people to stay away from the Salvador Allende Street area to keep roads clear for emergency vehicles, according to Express. The Prefecture of Meurthe-et-Moselle declared a "major incident" and activated its Departmental Operational Center to coordinate the response.
Victims Were Local Nurses on a Group Skydiving Trip
Thierry Pechey, president of the Meurthe-et-Moselle branch of the Order of Independent Nurses, confirmed at the scene that the passengers were local independent nurses from the Nancy region. The trip was an organized group outing — a first-time skydiving event — arranged for healthcare workers.
The loss hit the local medical community hard. Eleven frontline healthcare workers died in a single accident. L'Est Républicain reported the news sent shockwaves through the regional nursing profession, raising concerns about the impact on an already stretched local healthcare workforce.
Investigators Probe Cause as Press Conference Looms
France's civil aviation investigation authority, the Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses (BEA), is leading the probe into what caused the crash. Investigators will examine the aircraft's maintenance records, weight limits, and flight logs. The cause remains unknown. A press conference was scheduled for 4:30 PM with representatives from the prosecutor's office, police, and SAMU — the French emergency medical service — according to The Independent.
The BEA inquiry could trigger a wider safety review of skydiving operations across the Grand Est region. If mechanical failure is confirmed, similar aircraft types may be grounded. The prosecutor's office is also examining whether the flight followed proper weight and safety protocols, JFeed reported.
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