Eleven people feared killed in Polish plane crash

Aircraft carrying 12 people to a parachute jump crashed shortly after take off

Police officers inspect the plane wreck at the crash site in Topolow, near Czestochowa. Photograph: EPA
Police officers inspect the plane wreck at the crash site in Topolow, near Czestochowa. Photograph: EPA

Eleven people are feared killed today after a plane taking them on a parachute jump crashed in southern Poland shortly after take off, spokespeople for emergency medical services and fire services said.

One man in his forties survived and was taken to hospital in the city of Czestochowa in serious condition, 207 kilometres south-west of Warsaw.

“From what we know 11 people were killed,” said Justyna Sochacka, spokeswoman for the Air Rescue said. “There were 12 people onboard the plane.”

A spokesman for the headquarters of fire services, Pawel Fratczak, said the crashed plane was a Piper PA-31 Navajo.

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“The plane caught fire after it hit the ground,” Mr Fratczak said.

The Piper PA-31 Navajo plane is produced by US firm Piper Aircraft.

The plane, which had been operated by a private parachuting school, took off from the Rudniki airfield just outside Czestochowa, Mr Fratczak added.

Reuters