Crash
A helicopter crash in the high-altitude Fusshörner region of the Swiss Alps has left a 51-year-old Swiss man dead, Valais authorities confirmed Saturday, June 28. The helicopter, which was traversing the Oberaletsch Glacier at the time, came to a sudden halt on its side after an unexplained impact with the ground, according to Valais cantonal police.
The aircraft, operated by the Valais-based airline Air-Glaciers, was reportedly conducting agricultural transport operations when the crash occurred. Emergency services—including Valais cantonal police, the Valais rescue organization, four helicopters, a rescue specialist, and the Naters fire brigade—responded swiftly to the remote crash site. The accident occured at approximately 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) altitude.
Both the pilot and a flight assistant survived the incident without serious injuries and received immediate medical care. The 51-year-old passenger was pronounced dead at the scene.
An eyewitness hiking with his wife on the nearby Sparrhorn mountain described the moment the helicopter went down. “I thought the helicopter was about to land, but then it crashed two seconds before I could film,” he said. “A huge cloud of smoke rose up, and the helicopter tipped onto its side.”
The Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (SUST) has launched a formal investigation into the cause of the crash. Air-Glaciers expressed deep sorrow over the incident, stating they were “deeply saddened by the death of the passenger.”
While helicopter crashes remain rare, they are statistically more common in mountainous regions due to complex terrain and rapidly shifting weather conditions. In the United States, nearly 40% of all helicopter accidents between 2007 and 2016 occurred in the mountainous western states, including Colorado, Alaska, and California. Switzerland only sees about one fatal helicopter accident per year on average.
