A tragic plane crash occurred on Sunday in eastern France, resulting in the deaths of all 11 passengers aboard. Local authorities called it one of the deadliest light aircraft accidents in French history.

The crash took place in the town of Tomblaine, claiming the lives of five instructors, five students, and the pilot. Yves Seguy, the prefect of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department, confirmed these details.

The students, identified as a group of nurses, were undertaking their first skydiving jump, reportedly as a means to relax during a challenging heatwave. This information came from a source close to the case and was confirmed by Thierry Pechey, head of the nursing council in Meurthe-et-Moselle.

“They were colleagues who had decided to go on a first skydiving jump, no doubt to unwind,” Pechey remarked.

Mathieu Klein, the mayor of the nearby city of Nancy, mentioned that the victims’ loved ones, present at the site to film the skydives, witnessed the tragedy unfold.

Local authorities reported that medical and psychological support teams were assisting the victims’ relatives and other witnesses.

The aircraft, the Pilatus PC-6, registered in Germany, crashed in a grassy area near the runway of the Nancy-Essey aerodrome. It came down close to a residential neighborhood and roads. Klein noted the situation could have been worse, as the crash occurred just meters from homes.

Herve Feron, the mayor of Tomblaine, stated that the plane’s descent was “unexplained,” noting it crashed “straight down” during its ascent. The aircraft was chartered for a skydiving weekend, a common practice.

The incident’s cause remains unclear. Authorities have opened a technical investigation to determine what occurred, stated Amaury Lacote, deputy public prosecutor in Nancy.

Police have urged people to avoid the airport area to allow unhindered emergency services access.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez and Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot are expected to visit the accident site later in the day.