ELEVEN DIE IN FRENCH SKYDIVING PLANE CRASH NEAR NANCY

Eleven people died after a skydiving aircraft crashed in northeastern France on Sunday. The single-engine Pilatus PC-6 went down shortly after taking off from Nancy-Essey airfield. Those killed comprised five novice jumpers, five instructors and the pilot. The aircraft descended rapidly and fell almost vertically, narrowly avoiding a populated area nearby.

Witnesses described the plane as having "dropped out of the sky suddenly". Some of the victims' families were present at the airfield and reportedly saw the accident occur, resulting in significant emotional and psychological impact. The Paris prosecutor's office initiated an investigation into the cause of the crash. Authorities characterised the incident as France's most serious aviation accident involving skydiving operations in the past thirty years.

The crash involved a single-engine aircraft operated for recreational skydiving purposes. The investigation will determine the circumstances that led to the rapid descent and impact. No further details regarding the identity of those aboard or the specific cause have been confirmed at this stage.