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Four killed in light aircraft crash in the Pyrenees
A tragic light aircraft crash in the French Pyrenees claimed the lives of an instructor and three student pilots on Sunday, according to local authorities. The group, all affiliated with France’s National School of Civil Aviation (ENAC), had taken off from the small airfield of Saint-Girons in the Ariège department for a short training flight.
Emergency services were alerted after the aircraft, a single-engine four-seat Robin DR400, failed to return as scheduled. A distress call was reportedly received around early evening, prompting an immediate aerial search. Two helicopters—one from the national gendarmerie and another from the fire and rescue services—were deployed and eventually located the wreckage approximately two hours later.
The aircraft was found at an altitude of about 2,000 meters in a snowy, difficult-to-reach area near the Eychelle lake, on the outskirts of the village of Bethmale. A mountain rescue officer was lowered to the crash site and confirmed that all four occupants had died.
Local investigators have opened an inquiry to determine the cause of the accident, which occurred under weather conditions described as favorable for flying. A judicial autopsy is expected to proceed once the victims are airlifted from the remote location. The national air transport gendarmerie has been tasked with leading the investigation.
At the Saint-Girons air club, members expressed shock and disbelief. Representatives noted that the aircraft had undergone regular maintenance and had been considered in good condition. Local officials and the French transport minister offered condolences to the families, emphasizing that the victims were young aviation enthusiasts preparing for promising careers in the field.
