France's Minister of Transport Philippe Tabarot visited the site of a deadly plane crash in Tomblaine, northeastern France, on Monday, describing the incident as a 'terrible tragedy.' The crash, which occurred on Sunday at 11:00 local time, claimed the lives of 11 people, including the pilot and five instructors, according to local authorities.
Crash Details and Immediate Response
The aircraft, carrying skydivers, went down near a housing development on the edge of the airfield in Tomblaine. Yves Seguy, the prefect of the Meurthe-et-Moselle region, told reporters that the plane crashed 'almost vertically' and that there were many witnesses, including relatives of the victims. Emergency services responded immediately, with 50 firefighters and police units deployed to the scene.
Herve Feron, the mayor of Tomblaine, confirmed to French broadcaster BFMTV that no homes were hit. 'There was no collateral damage, but unfortunately all the people who were inside died,' he said, adding that the entire town was in mourning.
Investigation Underway
Tabarot posted on X, expressing deep emotion after visiting the site alongside Laurent Nunez. 'The Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses visited the scene today and has opened an investigation to determine the precise circumstances of this tragic accident,' he wrote. The Nancy deputy public prosecutor, Amaury Lacote, stated that gendarmerie units specializing in air transport had begun examining the wreckage as part of a technical investigation.
According to Al Jazeera, Seguy said authorities were collecting witness statements. Thierry Pechey, president of the Meurthe-et-Moselle Council of Independent Nurses, told BFMTV that five instructors and five independent nurses appeared to be among the casualties, along with the pilot.
Impact and Mourning
The crash has plunged the community into grief. Feron noted that the entire town was in mourning, and Tabarot acknowledged the loss of 11 lives, saying it 'plunged entire families into mourning.' The investigation aims to determine the cause of the crash, with the Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses leading the inquiry.
