Two French nationals die in plane crash in northern Morocco

Two French nationals were killed on Sunday when a light aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from Cherif Al Idrissi Airport in Al Hoceima, northern Morocco, AFP reported, citing a source close to the case.

The aircraft was operating a flight between Montpellier, France, and Tit Mellil, near Casablanca, with a stopover in Al Hoceima. It had made a technical stop for refueling before resuming its journey.

A few minutes after takeoff, the plane suddenly lost altitude and crashed near the airport’s perimeter fence, according to Le360. The pilot and a female passenger, both French nationals, were rushed to Mohammed VI Provincial Hospital in Al Hoceima, where they were pronounced dead on arrival.

Local authorities, Royal Gendarmerie officers, security services and Civil Protection teams were deployed to the scene. The wreckage is undergoing technical examinations as investigators seek to determine whether the crash was caused by a mechanical failure, pilot error or other external factors.