French Skydiving Plane Missed Homes by 'Just a Few Dozen Meters' Before Killing 11

A deadly skydiving plane crash in north-eastern France killed 11 people shortly after take-off on Sunday, after the aircraft came down only a few dozen meters from nearby homes. The Pilatus PC-6 crashed near Nancy-Essey aerodrome at around 11:00 a.m. local time, killing the pilot and all 10 passengers, including five skydiving instructors and five people taking introductory jumps. Early indications from officials pointed to an engine problem soon after take-off, though the cause has not been confirmed. Witnesses said the engine sounded different before the plane descended rapidly and veered sharply to the right, catching fire after impact. Emergency services—including about 50 firefighters and police—responded, and local authorities said no residents were injured and no houses were hit. Investigators and prosecutors opened an inquiry, while officials including Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot visited the scene.