Plane wreckage from 1968 crash found on Swiss glacier

The plane was found on a Swiss glacier more than five decades after the crash. AFP

Wreckage from a plane that crashed in the Swiss Alps in 1968 has been discovered on a glacier more than 54 years on, police said on Friday.

The pieces emerged on the Aletsch Glacier in the south-western Wallis canton, near the Jungfrau and Monch mountain peaks.

Wallis police said the wreckage was discovered on Thursday.

“Investigations have determined that the parts were from the wreckage of a Piper Cherokee, registration HB-OYL, which crashed at this location on June 30, 1968. Recovery work will be undertaken as soon as possible,” police said.

The 24 Heures regional newspaper said that on board were a teacher, a chief medical officer and his son, all from Zurich.

A mountain guide reportedly discovered the wreckage during an expedition in the area.

The fatal plane crash occurred 500 metres south of the Jungfraujoch saddle between the two peaks. The bodies were recovered at the time, but the wreckage was not.

“At the time of the accident, more than 50 years ago, the technical means to recover aircraft wreckage in difficult terrain were limited,” police said.

“Due to the melting of the glaciers, particularly in summer, it is therefore possible that other pieces of wreckage may be released from the ice.

“In case of discovery, these elements must not be handled in order to avoid any risk of injury. They must be marked and immediately reported to the police.”