Helicopter crash in French Alps kills 5

A helicopter Eurocopter EC135 owned by Service Aerien Francais, a private company carrying out a rescue mission has crashed and fell from an altitude of 1, 800 metres ( 5, 900ft) in the French Alps, near the town of Bonvillard in the Savoir area killing five of the six people on board. The alarm was raised by the surviving pilot at around 19:10 local time ( 18:10GMT)was found seriously injured.

The crew onboard consisted of two pilots – one in training- along with two winch operators and two mountain rescue workers. Police Union Synergie-officers have named Amaury Lagroy de Croutte as one of the victims who led the local mountain unit of the CRS France’s Riot police since 2018.

Three helicopters have been sent to the site as part of a rescue team of over 40 people, although the aircraft have been unable to reach the site due to fog. Instead, the pilot recovered by a group of rescuers who approached on foot.

In a tweet, French President Emmanuel Macron shared “ support from the nation to the families, friends and colleagues of these French heroes”.