A mid-air collision involving two aircraft in France has left 11 skydivers dead, in what is being described as one of the worst parachuting accidents in the country's history. The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch has offered full assistance to French authorities as they work to establish the cause of the tragedy.
The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon near the town of Carcassonne in the southwest of the country. Two aircraft, both carrying skydivers from a local drop zone, collided in mid-air before crashing into a field. All 11 on board died instantly. The victims included experienced jumpers from France and several other European countries.
French investigators have launched a probe into the crash and have been joined by experts from the AAIB. The branch said in a statement: “We are aware of the accident in France and have offered our full assistance to the Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses for the security of civil aviation. We will provide any support requested.”
The news comes as a devastating blow to the tight-knit skydiving community. Sam Timms, a British instructor who has jumped at the Carcassonne site, described the community as “absolutely stunned.” He added: “These are experienced people who knew the risks. To lose so many in one go is just heartbreaking.”
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the dead, but confirmed that no one on the ground was hurt. The wreckage has been cordoned off as investigators comb through debris and analyse flight data.
This is a developing story. The AAIB has not confirmed whether any British nationals are among the victims, but early reports suggest a mix of nationalities. We will bring you more information as it becomes available.
