On Sunday, June 28, 2026, a civilian aircraft operated by a parachuting school crashed shortly after taking off from Nancy-Essey Airfield near Tomblaine in northeastern France. The aircraft went down at around 11:00 a.m. local time, killing all 11 people on board.

According to French authorities, the victims included the pilot, five student skydivers, and five experienced instructors. Emergency services rushed to the scene, while police cordoned off the area and urged the public to avoid the crash site to allow rescue and investigative teams to work.

Yves Seguy, the prefect of the Meurthe-et-Moselle region, confirmed that investigators are collecting witness statements as they work to determine what caused the aircraft to crash moments after departure. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez traveled to the scene as the national investigation got underway.

This marks yet another fatal skydiving aircraft accident within just a few weeks, adding to growing concerns over the risks faced by aircraft operating parachuting missions. While such flights are a vital part of the skydiving industry, they typically involve repeated takeoffs and climbs under demanding operating conditions, making thorough maintenance and operational safety critical.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and authorities have not yet released details about the aircraft type or any possible factors involved.