… Pilot and 10 passengers die after aircraft goes down near Tomblaine airport.
At least 11 people have been killed after a civilian aircraft crashed near the eastern French town of Tomblaine on Sunday.
Authorities said the aircraft went down close to the airport, prompting police to cordon off the area and urge members of the public to stay away from the crash site.
According to local media reports, the aircraft belonged to a parachuting school and was carrying a group on a skydiving trip when the accident occurred.
The local prefecture confirmed that all 11 people on board including the pilot, five student skydivers, and five instructors died in the crash.
France’s Interior Ministry said the Interior Minister was travelling to the scene as emergency responders continued their operations.
The cause of the crash has not yet been disclosed, while investigations are expected to determine what led to the fatal incident.