No fewer than 11 people have been confirmed dead after a civilian aircraft crashed near the eastern French town of Tomblaine on Sunday.
Authorities said the aircraft came down close to the airport in Tomblaine, prompting an emergency response and a security cordon around the crash site.
Police urged members of the public to avoid the area as rescue and investigation teams commenced operations.
According to local media reports, the aircraft belonged to a parachuting school and was carrying participants on a skydiving trip at the time of the accident.
The prefecture confirmed that all 11 people on board died in the crash.
The victims included the pilot, five student skydivers and five instructors.
The French Interior Ministry said the country’s Interior Minister was travelling to the scene of the crash to assess the situation and coordinate the government’s response.
