Two British nationals are among three people confirmed dead after a small plane crashed in the Swiss Alps. The aircraft went down high in the mountains near the town of Leukerbad in the southern canton of Valais, Switzerland, on Tuesday, September 15.
Victims identified
All three passengers onboard the plane died, with police working to identify the victims. Two have been confirmed to be 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 body added: "Our thoughts remain with the families during this difficult time."
Crash details
The Cirrus SR22T aircraft took off from Sion Airport in the Rhône Valley and collided with a mountain slope in the area of Fluhalp approximately 10 minutes later for unknown reasons. The plane originally came from Lugano in the southern Italian-speaking canton of Ticino before stopping off in Sion.
Residents quickly alerted emergency services of the crash after seeing smoke rise from the aircraft shortly after 4pm. Three helicopters and two rescue specialists were part of a team deployed to the site.
Investigation launched
The federal Swiss authorities have launched an investigation into the crash alongside a criminal investigation by the Office of the Attorney General of the Confederation and the Valais cantonal police.
Pictures shared by local police show the wreckage of the plane on the mountainside. The local force said in a statement: "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."
