Relatives of the 11 victims witnessed the crash of a small plane near Nancy.

On June 28, 2026, a small private aircraft crashed near Nancy in northeastern France, resulting in the deaths of all eleven individuals on board. The incident occurred in the town of Tomblon, close to the Nancy-Essey airport. According to reports from local authorities and media outlets such as Associated Press and Reuters, the plane was carrying a group of ten paratroopers—five instructors and five trainees—as well as the pilot. All of them perished in the crash.

The aircraft, identified as a Pilatus model with German registration, had taken off from Nancy-Essey Airport shortly before the accident. It reportedly crashed almost immediately after takeoff, near the end of the runway, within proximity to residential areas. Local officials confirmed that the area around the crash site has been cordoned off, and emergency services including police, firefighters, and rescue teams have been deployed to secure the location and conduct investigations into the cause of the disaster. A judicial inquiry has also been initiated to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the crash.

Eyewitnesses, including family members of the victims, were present during the incident. Some of these relatives had been preparing to film tandem jumps, which were part of the planned activity. The mayor of Tomblon, Erve Feron, stated that the plane crashed very close to a residential neighborhood, just a few dozen meters away from the airport’s runway. He emphasized the tragic nature of the event but noted that the crash could have been even more severe given its proximity to homes. Medical and psychological support teams are currently assisting the families of the deceased and other witnesses.

According to the head of the regional association of social workers in Moselle, some of the victims might have been self-employed social workers. Thierry Pesche, president of the nursing council of Moselle and Meurthe, mentioned that the group consisted of colleagues who decided to make their first parachute jump together, likely as a way to relax amid the heatwave. Meanwhile, the mayor of nearby Nancy, Matthieu Klen, highlighted that the victims died in front of their loved ones, adding that the crash was "tragic, but could have been worse."

The National Parachute Association's leader, Pierre-Yves Juven, clarified that the aircraft was not owned by a local parachute club. Instead, it was a small machine requiring technical inspections every two years. This detail raises questions about whether the necessary maintenance checks were completed prior to the flight.

Authorities have indicated that the crash may have been caused by a technical malfunction. Prefect of the Moselle department, Yves Segi, told the press that the plane crashed vertically without signs of an attempted emergency landing. However, the precise reason behind the incident remains unclear. The French Bureau of Investigation and Analysis of Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) described this event as the worst private airplane crash in terms of number of fatalities since the exclusion of military and commercial aviation.

In response to the tragedy, the French Minister of the Interior is en route to the crash site. Police sources cited by *Le Figaro* indicate that the plane departed from Nancy-Essey Airport and crashed nearly immediately after takeoff, close to a residential district in Tomblon. Authorities have urged citizens to avoid the area near Salvador Allende Street to ensure free access for rescue teams and law enforcement. Present at the scene are prefect Yves Segi, representatives from the prosecution, police, and emergency medical services. Later in the day, it is expected that the Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nuñez, and the Minister of Transport, Philippe Tabarot, will arrive at the location.

An investigation into the technical causes of the crash is underway, led by the air transport gendarmerie. Additionally, the Institute for Criminal Research under the National Gendarmerie (IRCGN) will perform an expert analysis of the engine and control systems of the aircraft. The findings of this investigation will be crucial in determining the exact sequence of events leading up to the crash and identifying any potential safety issues that may have contributed to the tragedy.