A small aircraft carrying skydivers crashed near Nancy in eastern France on Sunday. All 11 people on board — a mix of jumpers and crew — were killed, local authorities said, according to DW.

The crash happened near Tomblaine, a town outside Nancy. At this moment, few details have been released beyond the number of deaths and location. Officials have not yet named those who died or identified the aircraft operator.

France's civil aviation safety authority — called the BEA — will lead the investigation into what caused the crash. Local police will also open a separate inquiry, as they do in all fatal aviation accidents. Investigators will examine the plane's maintenance records, the pilot's training and recent flights, and the weather conditions at the time.

Small aircraft used for skydiving operations are different from passenger planes you might fly on. They are modified to allow the door to open safely during jumps. These types of flights carry more risk than commercial airline flights — not because they're poorly run, but because the nature of the operation is more complex. France's commercial airline safety record is very strong, but small aircraft operations like skydiving tend to have more accidents overall.

When a crash happens, investigators need to know exactly when and where things went wrong. Did the engine fail? Did something break the plane apart in the air? Did something go wrong during takeoff or landing? Each answer points toward a different cause, and that affects how the investigation unfolds.

The people of Nancy and surrounding towns are now grieving. First responders are helping families learn what happened to their loved ones. Communities built around skydiving are tight-knit — many victims likely knew each other — and that loss will be felt deeply.

As authorities continue their work, more information about the crash will be released.