The plane was carrying five people and descended near the ski resort of Courcheval, popular with British winter sports enthusiasts. Local officials said a large number of emergency service personnel, including high altitude specialists, were deployed to the crash scene after the region’s SATER plan was triggered – a search and rescue operation for air crash victims.
The prefecture of Savoie has also opened its crisis unit and Albertville prosecutor Anne Gaches announced that an investigation had been opened.
A spokesperson for the Savoie regional government said the civilian helicopter took off from Courcheval at 3:41 p.m. local time.
He specifies that the alarm was triggered around 5:20 p.m. by a witness who saw the helicopter descend between Lac de la Rosière and Dent du Villard at an altitude of 1900 meters.
The spokesperson said: “First aid, the high mountain gendarmerie and firefighters arrived at the scene of the accident at 6 pm.
“Departmental and extra-departmental helicopter resources are engaged to take care of the wounded.”
According to local media, the helicopter belongs to Courcheval businessman Patrick Lepeudry.
The other two survivors suffered less serious injuries and are being treated at Albertville hospital.
Ms Gaches said the investigation would be carried out by officers from the air transport gendarmerie research section.
The crash comes just two months after five men were killed when a rescue helicopter crashed during a training flight in the Alps.
The plane, owned by a private company, collapsed near the town of Bonvillard in Savoie. French authorities said the helicopter – a Eurocopter EC135 – was carrying an air rescue team on a training mission when it fell from an altitude of 1,800 meters.
