Plane Crashes in Austrian Alps; Search Underway for Survivors in Remote Terrain

A six-seater light aircraft crashed into difficult terrain in the Austrian Alps near Brandnertal, close to the Swiss border.

The plane, which was traveling from Italy, went down in a mountainous area with challenging access.

An urgent search and rescue operation is underway, led by mountain rescue teams following an alarm raised by the town’s mayor, Klaus Bitschi, shortly after 10am.

Around 100 emergency responders, including personnel from mountain rescue, the fire service, and police, are at the scene in the Lower Brüggele Area.

Dense fog has hampered helicopter efforts to search the area, according to emergency services.

The aircraft, identified as a twin-engine Beechcraft Baron 58 model from 1978, is reported to be a private plane. The exact number of passengers on board remains unclear, and the fuselage has yet to be located.