Two French nationals killed in small plane crash near Al Hoceima, Morocco, after sudden altitude loss
A small plane crashed shortly after takeoff near Al Hoceima, Morocco, on Sunday, killing the two French nationals on board. The aircraft was on a flight from Montpellier, France, to Tit Mellil, Morocco, with a planned stop at Cherif Al Idrissi airport.
The crash
On Sunday, June 21, a small plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Cherif Al Idrissi airport near Al Hoceima, a coastal city in northern Morocco. The aircraft suffered what Moroccan news site Le360 described as a "sudden loss of altitude shortly after takeoff." The crash occurred in the immediate vicinity of the airport, and both people on board died at the scene.
sudden loss of altitude shortly after takeoff
The flight
The aircraft was operating a private flight from Montpellier, in southern France, to Tit Mellil, a town in western Morocco. It had been scheduled to make a refueling stop at Cherif Al Idrissi airport before continuing to its final destination. The plane went down moments after departing on the second leg of the journey. The flight path took it across the Mediterranean Sea, a common route for small aircraft traveling between Europe and North Africa.
Victims and response
The two occupants were a pilot and a passenger, both French nationals. A source close to the investigation confirmed their citizenship to Agence France-Presse. Ouest France reported that the passenger was a woman. The victims were transported urgently to the Mohammed VI Provincial Hospital in Al Hoceima, where medical staff confirmed their deaths upon arrival.
The victims were transported urgently to the Mohammed VI Provincial Hospital in Al Hoceima, where their death was confirmed on arrival.
No names have been released, and authorities have not provided further details about the identities of the deceased. French consular officials in Morocco have been notified and are assisting with the case.
Investigation
The wreckage of the plane is now undergoing detailed technical examinations, Le360 reported. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the sudden loss of altitude. The aircraft's flight path, maintenance records, and weather conditions at the time of the accident are likely to be scrutinized. Moroccan aviation authorities are leading the investigation, with support from French experts.
The crash was first reported by Le360 and later confirmed by French outlets Le Figaro and Ouest France, as well as Romanian agency Mediafax. The incident has drawn attention to the safety of small aircraft operations in the region, though such accidents are relatively rare.
