Eleven people have died after a civilian aircraft crashed on Sunday near the eastern French town of Tomblaine, authorities have confirmed.
Police have urged members of the public to strictly avoid the area around the airport while emergency responders work at the scene.
According to local media reports, the aircraft, believed to belong to a parachuting school, was carrying a group on a skydiving trip when it crashed.
The victims include:
- The pilot
- Five student skydivers
- Five instructors
All 11 people on board were killed, according to the local prefecture.
The French Interior Minister is travelling to the crash site, the Interior Ministry said, as authorities begin an investigation into the cause of the accident.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain unclear, and officials are expected to release more information as the investigation progresses.
