A skydiving plane crashed in northeastern France on Saturday, killing all 11 people on board, according to local authorities. The accident occurred near the town of Charmes in the Vosges region.
Details of the Crash
The aircraft, a Pilatus PC-6 Porter, was carrying two pilots and nine skydivers. It went down shortly after takeoff from the Charmes aerodrome around 10:30 a.m. local time. Witnesses reported hearing an unusual engine noise before the plane nosedived into a field.
French civil aviation authority confirmed that all 11 occupants died in the crash. Emergency services rushed to the scene, but no survivors were found. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and a subsequent fire.
Investigation Underway
The French air accident investigation agency, BEA, has launched an inquiry into the cause of the crash. Investigators will analyze the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, both of which were recovered. Preliminary reports suggest no distress signal was sent.
“This is a tragedy for the skydiving community and the families of the victims,” said a spokesperson for the Vosges prefecture. “Our thoughts are with them.”
Impact on the Community
The crash has deeply affected the small town of Charmes, where the skydiving club was a popular local activity. The club’s president expressed shock, stating that many members knew the victims personally. Flags were lowered to half-mast in the town.
This is one of the deadliest skydiving plane crashes in France in recent years. In 2018, a similar accident in the Alps killed 10 people. The BEA expects to release a preliminary report within a month.
