French investigators probe fatal skydiving plane crash that killed pilot and 10 parachutists

A plane carrying participants in a skydiving activity crashed shortly after takeoff in northeastern France on Sunday, killing all 11 people aboard, authorities said.

The Meurthe-et-Moselle Prefecture said on X that the aircraft crashed after departing from Nancy-Essey Airport, prompting officials to activate the department's operational command center.

The Associated Press reported the victims included five parachuting instructors, five novice jumpers preparing for tandem skydives and the pilot.