In eastern France a light aircraft carrying skydivers crashed in the town of Tomblaine, killing all eleven people aboard.
The crash happened soon after takeoff from Nancy‑Essey airfield around 11:00 local time. The victims were a pilot, five instructors and five first‑time jumpers, many of whom were nurses.
French authorities opened an investigation, and the Interior Minister said emotions rose when witnessing the wreckage. Medical and psychological teams were dispatched to help families and witnesses.
The accident came amid a heatwave that swept the region, with temperatures hitting dangerous levels. Officials say the aircraft narrowly missed nearby houses and a shopping centre, preventing a larger disaster.
It is the deadliest private plane accident in French history aside from commercial flights, according to the BEA aviation safety agency.
