Geneva: Three people were killed and three others wounded in a helicopter crash during a heliski drop-off on Tuesday on the Petit Combin mountain in the Swiss Alps, police said.
According to the Wallis regional police force, the B3-type helicopter crashed at a landing site shortly after reaching the summit of the 3,668-meter-high mountain. The circumstances leading to the crash are currently under investigation.
The occupants of the helicopter included the pilot, a mountain guide, and four clients whose identities have not yet been disclosed. Regrettably, upon arrival at the crash site, rescuers found three persons dead, while three others sustained injuries.
In response to the incident, seven helicopters were dispatched to the scene to assist in rescue efforts. Two injured persons were immediately treated and airlifted to a hospital in Sion, the capital of the Wallis canton. Subsequently, a third injured person was also rescued.
“The three other occupants of the aircraft were unfortunately found lifeless,” stated the Wallis regional police force.
This tragic incident comes shortly after another fatal event in the southeastern Wallis canton, where three individuals, including a 15-year-old boy from the United States, lost their lives in an avalanche on Monday.
