Three people have been killed in a plane crash near a popular spa and ski resort in Switzerland. The Cirrus SR22T came down shortly after 4pm on Tuesday in the Fluhalp area of Leukerbad, Valais, after travelling from Lugano via Sion, the Valais Cantonal Police said.
The single-engine plane was continuing its journey towards Buochs, a scenic village in Switzerland, when it collided with a north-facing slope in the Fluhalp area at around 4pm. Witnesses reported seeing large plumes of smoke in the area. Emergency services raced to the scene and confirmed that the three occupants had died.
Three rescue helicopters were deployed to the crash site, while police and fire crews from Luekerbad and Sion Airport also attended. Work is ongoing to formally identify the victims.
The Swiss Safety Investigation Authority (SUST) has now launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. While the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) is conducting a criminal investigation in cooperation with the Valais cantonal police.
The bus which overturned between Susch and Zernez in the Graubünden was carrying around 48 Dutch passengers, including the driver, according to a spokeswoman for the General Dutch Association of Travel Companies, speaking on behalf of tour operator OAD.
Images from the scene show the bus lying on its side in a large grassy area, with ambulances surrounding the road nearby. Helicopters were also seen landing near the incident.
Oad, a travel agency behind the trip, said in a statement in Dutch that it was “deeply shocked and devastated by the tragic bus accident”, and its thoughts were with those involved and their loved ones.
