Swiss Alps plane crash
Two Britons among three killed in Swiss Alps light aircraft crash near Leukerbad. (Photo for illustration purposes only) Pexels/Sergio Zhukov

Two British nationals are among three people killed after a light aircraft crashed into a mountain slope near the Swiss Alpine resort of Leukerbad in the canton of Valais. Welsh businessman Owain Davies, 55, has been named as one of the victims, while the second British national and the third person have not been publicly identified.

The single-engine Cirrus SR22T crashed into a mountain slope in the Fluhalp area above Leukerbad shortly after 4pm on Tuesday, 15 September. Swiss police said the aircraft had travelled from Lugano and stopped at Sion airport before heading towards Buochs in the canton of Nidwalden. Witnesses reported seeing a 'significant' amount of smoke following the crash.

Emergency services were sent to the mountain with three helicopters and two rescue specialists. Police, firefighters and aviation investigators also attended the scene, where all three occupants were found dead. Swiss authorities have launched separate safety and criminal investigations into the crash.

Welsh Businessman Among Those Killed

Mr Davies was managing director of engineering company Amcanu, based in Burry Port, Carmarthenshire. The company said he had been travelling as a passenger alongside two close friends when the aircraft crashed.

Amcanu described Davies as a husband, father and grandfather and paid tribute to him as 'determined, strong-willed, spirited, reflective and immensely proud'.

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Davies was also an experienced pilot who regularly flew his own helicopter. Amcanu confirmed he was travelling as a passenger and was not at the controls of the Cirrus SR22T during the flight.

He had served as a helmsman with Burry Port Lifeboat for nearly 25 years and had been a trustee of the Wales Air Ambulance charity since 2017, according to BBC Wales and local reports. His son, Aron Davies, described his father as a mentor.

Rescuers Sent to Mountain Slope

Leukerbad, also known as Loeche-les-Bains, is a popular year-round mountain resort in Valais known for its thermal spa facilities, skiing and hiking. The crash happened on the mountain slope above the resort.

BBC reporting said the aircraft took off from Sion around 10 minutes before the crash. It had earlier departed from Lugano in southern Switzerland and stopped at Sion before continuing towards Buochs.

Witnesses reported seeing fire and smoke from the mountainside following the crash. The Valais Cantonal Rescue Organisation responded alongside police and firefighters, with three helicopters used in the operation.

Fire crews from Leukerbad and Sion airport also attended, while specialists from the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board and Vaud Cantonal Police worked at the crash site.

Swiss Investigations Underway

The Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board has launched a safety investigation to establish how the crash happened. The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland is conducting a separate criminal inquiry with Valais Cantonal Police. The authorities said the investigations are being carried out in parallel and in close coordination.

No cause has been established and authorities have not indicated what may have caused the aircraft to hit the mountainside.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said it was providing support to the families of the two British nationals who died in Switzerland and was in contact with local authorities.

Formal identification of the remaining victims is under way. Their names have not been publicly released.

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