Swiss Army chopper crashes on Gotthard Pass, two pilots killed

Bern: Two persons were killed while another was injured when a chopper belonging to the Swiss Army crashed on the Gotthard Pass in the Alps on Wednesday, said the federal defence ministry.

The accident took place around midday while the helicopter was taking four French inspectors, who came to the country on Monday last, to inspect the facilities of Swiss military under an agreement of security and cooperation in Europe. The four French national did not, however, suffer any injuries.

“I heard a big band and saw flames near the Gotthard Hospice,” said an eyewitness. The persons killed were both pilots. Later, the scene was attended by emergency services. The crash comes few weeks after a Swiss military fighter plane also crashed in the Alps while carrying out a training exercise.

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