France's sky diving plane crash killing 11 an "extremely significant

 French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez describes the crash of a sky diving plane that killed 11 in Northeast France as an "extremely significant tragedy."

This as details reveal some families watched in shock as the skydiving plane carrying their loved ones on what was meant to be a thrilling introduction to parachuting took a tragic turn.

Standing metres from the crash site at the Nancy-Essey airfield on the outskirts of the city of Nancy, Nunez says there were five instructors and five people participating in introductory jumps plus the pilot. 

The plane suffered malfunction and "fell almost vertically" soon after take off.

Nunez commends the emergency services for their "very rapid intervention."

He goes on to say the event has caused "psychological trauma" for families of the victims who watched as the tragedy unfolded.