Five dead after helicopter crashes in the French Alps

Team carrying out training mission in Savoie region came down at altitude of 1,800m

A Service aerien francais (SAF) company’s Airbus EC135, the same model of helicopter of the company that crashed in the Alps the day before and left five dead. Photograph: Jean-Philippe Ksiazek/AFP via Getty
A Service aerien francais (SAF) company’s Airbus EC135, the same model of helicopter of the company that crashed in the Alps the day before and left five dead. Photograph: Jean-Philippe Ksiazek/AFP via Getty

Five members of a mountain rescue team have been killed and a sixth was seriously injured when their helicopter crashed in the French Alps.

The helicopter was carrying the team on a training mission in the Savoie region. The helicopter came down at an altitude of 1,800 metres, the prefecture of Savoie said.

The surviving crew member was able to give the alert. He has been transported to a hospital in the city of Grenoble, the prefecture said.

Weather conditions were particularly bad, local authorities said.

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French president Emmanuel Macron paid tribute in a tweet overnight to rescuers who "to save lives, are taking all the risks". He said the injured victim is "fighting for life".

An investigation has been opened into the circumstances of the crash. – AP