Helicopter crash at Lake Maggiore: Pilot dies, three Germans partly seriously injured

Victims and injured

The cause of the crash is still unclear. According to the fire department, one of the occupants lost their life. According to Mayor Bona, the fatality is said to be the helicopter's pilot; he is said to have been around 60 years old. "Beim Absturz eines Hubschraubers am Lago Maggiore in Italien ist einer der Insassen ums Leben gekommen," the fire department said.

Background: The Lake Maggiore region

Three other occupants were partly seriously injured, according to the fire department. As Luca Bona told "Corriere della Sera," the injured are German: "Die Verletzten seien Deutsche, sagte er der italienischen Tageszeitung ‚Corriere della Sera‘." Two of the injured were taken to hospital by another helicopter.

The crash site is located near the municipality of Lesa in the immediate vicinity of the lake. Lake Maggiore, situated on the border with Switzerland, is Italy's second-largest lake after Lake Garda. The area is a popular vacation region. (Tsp/dpa)