2 pilots killed in tourist plane crash in French Alps

The two men, who have not yet been identified, had taken off from Dortmund in Germany yesterday, according to the Chambery prosecutor who is investigating the cause of the accident.

Grenoble (France), Nov 26: The bodies of two pilots killed when their tourist plane crashed in the French Alps were recovered today after intense searches in the mountains east of Chambery, the city's prosecutor said.

The two men, who have not yet been identified, had taken off from Dortmund in Germany yesterday, according to the Chambery prosecutor who is investigating the cause of the accident in the Savoie region of eastern France.

The two-seater tourist plane was heading to the French city of Albertville and a search began yesterday evening when it failed to land as scheduled. The wreckage was spotted on Mount Trelod in the Bauges mountains with an altitude of around 2,200 metres.

"The aircraft had slammed into the eastern face of the summit during bad weather conditions," the prosecutor said. Rescuers on the ground brought down the bodies of the two victims on Saturday. An autopsy will be carried out Monday to determine if either of the pilots had fallen ill.

PTI