French investigators probe fatal skydiving plane crash that killed pilot and 10 parachutists
A skydiving plane crash in northeastern France killed all 11 people aboard after the Pilatus PC-6 suffered a malfunction shortly after takeoff.
TL;DR
- A plane crashed after taking off from Nancy-Essey Airport in northeastern France on Sunday.
- All 11 people on board, including the pilot, five skydiving instructors, and five novice jumpers, were killed.
- The aircraft, a Pilatus PC-6, is believed to have suffered a malfunction and crashed less than a minute after takeoff.
- The crash narrowly missed populated areas.
- French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez and Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot visited the crash site.
- An investigation has been launched by the Air Transport Gendarmerie's investigative unit, with assistance from the Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses.
- This incident is considered France's deadliest aviation accident involving a skydiving flight in about 30 years.
- A similar deadly skydiving plane crash occurred in the U.S. weeks prior, killing 12 people.