A glider. (symbol image)Image: DPA
April 26, 2026, 2:25 p.mApril 26, 2026, 2:25 p.m
A Swiss pilot died when a glider crashed in Trentino. The plane had taken off from Lienz, Austria, on Saturday afternoon and was flying over the Maddalene Group when it crashed.
This is where the accident happened.
The machine crashed into the southern slope of Monte Pin in the Val di Non valley in Trentino at an altitude of around 2,000 meters, a few meters below a ridge. A hiker made the emergency call. Mountain and cave rescue teams and a rescue helicopter were alerted.
On site, the helpers could only determine that the pilot was dead. The rescue was difficult due to the altitude. Two helicopters with emergency services had to be deployed to retrieve the body, as the Trentino Alpine Rescue reported.
Possible causes of the accident include a technical defect or the pilot feeling unwell. The Italian aviation safety authority opened an investigation. The 66-year-old pilot was considered an experienced glider pilot. (sda/apa)