At least 11 dead including 'trainee nurses' after skydiving plane crashes in France

Want LBC stories before everyone else? Set us as your Preferred Source on Google

The pilot and all ten passengers, made up of five students and five instructors, were killed in the crash in the town of Tomblaine, Nancy, in north east of the country.

The Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter aircraft belonged to a parachutist school, local officials have said.

The incident happened at around 11am which saw the aircraft fall from the sky minutes after taking off from the Nancy-Essey airfield.

Read more: British crisis-response team stranded amid attempt to join earthquake rescue effort, as Venezuela's missing soars above 50,000

Read more: Rough sleeping no longer a crime as 200-year-old law to be repealed

The prefect of Meurthe-and-Moselle confirmed a provisional death toll of eleven but said the number could increase because of victims on the ground.

The names and nationalities of those on board have not yet been released.

However, local media have reported that five of the victims were self-employed nurses from the local area who were going skydiving for the first time.

Local police have urged the public to avoid the area around the airport in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department.

A spokesperson added: "To keep access clear for emergency services and law enforcement, do not go to the scene. Thank you for facilitating their intervention."

An investigating source told Daily Mail: "The single-engine plane was carrying around eleven people when it came down near Nancy.

"Those onboard included a pilot, five instructors, and five others who were due to take part in tandem jumps for the first time."

Amaury Lacote, a local prosecutor, announced that a formal investigation will be launched.

The incident comes weeks another aircraft carrying skydivers crashed in Missouri, US, which killed 12 people.

That crash occurred near the Butler Memorial Airport, about 60 miles south of Kansas City.