Airbus Helicopters AS350B3 crash near Petit Combin, Switzerland

An Air Glaciers AS350B3 Ecureuil (HB-ZCZ) crashed at the heli-ski landing site on the summit of Petit Combin at 3,668m altitude near Verbier at approximately 09:25 local time. The helicopter slid down the steep northern slope, plunging 500m. Three of six on board were killed: pilot Jerome Lovey, American ski guide Adam George (45) from New Hampshire, and Irish UN official James Davis-Goff (34) from Co. Wicklow. British passenger Edward Courage (68) pushed brothers Guy and Ted Hitchens to safety before suffering multiple broken bones. Eyewitnesses suggested an avalanche may have propelled the helicopter down the slope. Seven rescue helicopters from Air Glaciers, Air Zermatt, and REGA responded. The STSB and Federal Prosecutor opened investigations.