Eleven people killed in French parachutist plane crash

Eleven people were killed when a small parachutist aircraft crashed in northeastern France, striking near a bike path and narrowly missing nearby homes as families watched. Officials said the plane, associated with a parachuting school, went down shortly after takeoff from Nancy-Essey airport in the town of Tomblaine around late morning, with the crash occurring about 300 metres from the runway. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the engine noise stopped suddenly while the aircraft was climbing, according to a witness. The regional prefect Yves Seguy said the aircraft plunged vertically, and the wreckage landed in a residential area near a shopping centre. Authorities identified the aircraft as a single-engine Pilatus PC-6, and flight tracking services said it registered in Germany. Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot called it France’s deadliest general aviation accident involving skydiving in about 30 years. The victims were set to jump as tandems.