The Aletsch Glacier is the largest glacier in Switzerland and one of the tourist magnets
Photo: Alessandro Della Bella/ DPA
It has been more than 54 years since a plane crashed over the Aletsch Glacier in Switzerland.
Parts of the Piper Cherokee have now been found – by a mountain guide, as Swiss media reports.
The Valais cantonal police confirmed the find in a statement.
Accordingly, an initial investigation revealed that "the wreckage relates to the accident involving the Piper Cherokee, registered as HB-OYL, which occurred on June 30, 1968."
According to the Swiss media, three passengers died in the accident.
As the "Berner Zeitung" reports, the bodies could still be recovered by helicopter at the time, but not the wreck.
The police are now writing that a rescue was not possible due to limited technical possibilities.
Accordingly, the wreck is in difficult terrain.
However, salvage work is now being planned.
They are to be tackled “as soon as possible”.
Released by glacial melt
Apparently, the wreckage was released by the summer glacier melt.
Police said more wreckage could be found.
However, one should not touch them, it said, there could be a risk of injury.
The fact that the parts have now been found is apparently also due to a coincidence: As a hut warden told SRF, there is currently little snow on site.
That's why the mountain guide had to take a different route on the way to the hut.
Only then were the wreckage discovered.
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