LONDON: A single engine plane carrying nine skydivers crashed in northern Sweden, killing all nine people aboard.

The ill-fated GippsAero GA8 Airvan popular with skydivers crashed on an island on the Ume river  minutes after taking off Umea airport at 14 pm (12:00 GMT), confirmed authorities.

All those on board were Swedish, police added. The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained. “Some of the parachutists were trying to jump just before it crashed,”  Swedish media quoted eyewitnesses as saying.

(Agencies)