Tourist plane crashes in Tomblaine as 'death toll believed to be very high'

A plane carrying tourists on a skydiving trip has crashed, and several people are understood to have been killed - experts fear the craft may be about to explode

12:20, 28 Jun 2026Updated 15:44, 28 Jun 2026

11 people died in the crash(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

A plane transporting tourists for a skydiving excursion has tragically crashed, killing 11 people. The aircraft plummeted in Tomblaine, near Nancy in France, at approximately 11am local time today.

Those killed include five instructors, five students, and the experienced pilot. Three people were reportedly ejected. The victims of the crash are independent nurses from Nancy who were skydiving for the first time French news outlet L'Est Republicain is reporting.

Thierry Pechey, president of the Meurthe-et-Moselle branch of the Order of Independent Nurses, is on site. Local news indicated there was a potential risk of the plane exploding. A safety perimeter was established.

In a message posted on social media, the Meurthe-et-Moselle prefecture said the crash involved a civilian aircraft which took off from the Nancy-Essey aerodrome.

[Security personnel look at the wreckage of a Pilatus PC-6 light aircraft]

Security personnel look at the wreckage of a Pilatus PC-6 light aircraft(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

It read: An incident is currently underway in the municipality of Tomblaine involving a civil aircraft that took off from Nancy-Essey aerodrome.

Yves SGUY, prefect of Meurthe-et-Moselle, has decided to activate the departmental operational center (COD) in the presence of all operational services in order to ensure real-time monitoring of the event.

The prefect is on site.

Local police are urging members of the public to stay away from the crash site. Meurthe-et-Moselle national police posted on X asking people to Imperatively avoid the Salvador Allende Street area entirely.

[1_FRANCE-AVIATION-CRASH.jpg]

Police at the scene of the crash(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

The crash took place near the exit of a cemetery in Tomblaine. Local news outlet France3 reports: The human toll is believed to be very high, and the risk of the aircraft exploding is significant.

"Two emergency medical teams have just left the site with flashing lights."

The plane that crashed was a Pilatus which was registered in Germany. This type of aircraft is commonly used in parachute jumps.

The Minister of the Interior is expected to hold a press conference around 4.30pm.

Herv Feron, the mayor of Tomblaine, said: "The plane was taking off when it suddenly crashed. At the moment, there is no explanation for the accident.

"The crash caused no collateral damage; it occurred on a bike path near a residential area.

"Tomblaine is providing a room at a secret location to accommodate the victims' families. According to my information, there were five instructors, five skydivers, and the pilot on board the plane, which was probably rented in Germany.

"The Greater Nancy Metropolitan Area is also providing a room for the victims to gather and pay their respects."

He added: "I don't remember a tragedy of this magnitude."

In a post on X the French Minister of Transport Philippe Tabarot said: Terrible tragedy in Meurthe-et-Moselle, where a plane carrying participants in a skydiving activity crashed near Tomblaine.

The human toll is particularly heavy: 11 people lost their lives. I extend my most sincere condolences to their loved ones.

I will be traveling to the scene this afternoon with Laurent Nunez, Minister of the Interior.

A huge number of first responders have been mobilised in the aftermath of the plane crash, L'Est Republicain reports.

There are 50 firefighters, 25 vehicles from the SDIS rescue service, 2 emergency medical crews from SAMU, 45 agents from the National Police as well as two approved civil security associations.

A chapel of rest has been set up at the nearby Marcel-Picot stadium.

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