Two Swiss and one Irishman among those killed in helicopter crash in Valais
Published: Thursday, Apr 4th 2024, 18:41
Updated At: Friday, Apr 5th 2024, 01:59
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The victims of the helicopter crash on the Petit Combin in the Lower Valais have been identified: They are the 34-year-old pilot with Swiss citizenship, the 45-year-old Swiss mountain guide and the 34-year-old Irish passenger.
This was confirmed by the Office of the Attorney General on Thursday evening at the request of the Keystone-SDA news agency. Further investigations into the course of the accident are underway. Such investigations usually take several months.
On Tuesday morning, the helicopter slid down the northern slope while heliskiing on the mountain landing site of the 3668-metre-high Petit Combin. On board were the pilot, the mountain guide and four heliskiing tourists.
Three more tourists injured
Seven helicopters from Air-Glaciers, Air Zermatt and Rega flew to the scene to rescue the casualties. Two injured people received immediate medical treatment before being flown to the hospital in Sion. A third person was also rescued later. The three people who have now been identified could only be recovered dead.
The helicopter involved in the accident was an Air-Glaciers aircraft. The company said on Tuesday that it was "deeply saddened and indescribably affected by this event".
The 3663-metre-high Petit Combin, located between the Val de Bagnes and the Val d'Entremont, is a popular starting point for heli-skiing. It was the third helicopter accident in Valais this year. In mid-February, a pilot who was alone on board crashed and was injured in the Niouc area. In mid-March, a helicopter crashed on a training ground in the municipality of Vétroz. One of the two occupants was slightly injured.
©Keystone/SDA
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