Two British nationals are among three people confirmed dead after a small plane crashed in the Swiss Alps. The aircraft came down high in the mountains near the town of Leukerbad in the southern canton of Valais on Tuesday, September 15.
Crash details and response
All three passengers aboard the aircraft perished, with police working to identify the victims, though two have been confirmed as British. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has confirmed it is "providing support to the families of two British nationals who died in Switzerland". The department added: "Our thoughts remain with the families during this difficult time."
The Cirrus SR22T aircraft departed from Sion Airport in the Rhône Valley and struck a mountain slope in the Fluhalp area approximately 10 minutes later for reasons unknown. The aircraft had originally travelled from Lugano in the southern Italian-speaking canton of Ticino before making a stop in Sion.
Investigation launched
Local residents swiftly alerted emergency services to the crash after spotting smoke rising from the wreckage shortly after 4pm. Three helicopters and two rescue specialists formed part of a team dispatched to the scene as a search operation was carried out.
Federal Swiss authorities have launched an investigation into the crash alongside a criminal inquiry by the Office of the Attorney General of the Confederation and the Valais cantonal police. Images released by local police show the debris of the aircraft scattered across the mountainside, with smoke coming from the vehicle.
The local police force stated: "Shortly after 4pm, for reasons yet to be determined, the aircraft collided with the northern slope of a mountain in the Fluhalp area of Leukerbad. Signs of smoke were subsequently reported in the region."
