Tomblaine Plane Crash: Smoke Inside the Cabin, the Final Flight and the Questions Behind the Tragedy

 

A warning of smoke, a sudden engine change and a devastating loss of control describe the sequence that the preliminary findings place at the center of the final flight.

 

The day began as another routine skydiving flight from Nancy-Essey Airport in northeastern France. The Pilatus PC-6 had already completed several trips that day, carrying instructors and passengers preparing to experience a parachute jump. The weather appeared favorable, the aircraft remained within its permitted weight, and the pilot held extensive experience on the type.

 

During the take-off, someone inside the cabin noticed something alarming.