Two Britons among three killed as small plane crashes into Swiss Alps mountainside
Two British individuals are among three people who have died after a small plane crashed into a mountainside in the Swiss Alps.
The single-engine Cirrus SR22T went down near Leukerbad in the southern Swiss canton of Valais on Tuesday afternoon.
Police said the aircraft had taken off from Sion Airport and, for reasons not yet known, crashed into the northern slope of a mountain in the Fluhalp area about 10 minutes later.
All three individuals on board died in the crash, with authorities working to formally identify the victims.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has confirmed two of those killed were British nationals.
An FCDO spokesperson said: ‘We are providing support to the families of two British nationals who died in Switzerland.
‘Our thoughts remain with the families during this difficult time.’
The plane had earlier taken off from Lugano, in Switzerland’s Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, before stopping at Sion.
It was then heading towards Buochs aerodrome in the central canton of Nidwalden when it crashed at around 4pm.
Residents reported seeing smoke rising from the aircraft and alerted emergency services.
Three helicopters and two rescue specialists were sent to the scene, alongside workers from the Valais Rescue Organisation.
A photograph released by local police showed the wreckage scattered across the mountainside.
An investigation into what caused the crash has now been launched by Swiss federal authorities.
A separate criminal investigation is also being led by the Office of the Attorney General of the Confederation, working with Valais cantonal police.
The tragedy comes just days after another fatal crash in the Swiss Alps, when a coach carrying 48 Dutch tourists overturned on a mountain road in the canton of Graubünden.
The coach struck a safety barrier before flipping over and plunging down an embankment.
Several people were killed and others injured, although authorities have not yet released a full death toll.
Technology & Business Editor
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
