Skier hit by plane in French ski resort
A skier was seriously injured when she was hit by a light aircraft on the slopes of one of the most popular ski resorts in France.
The single-propeller plane struggled to take off from a runway high up the mountain in Avoriaz yesterday morning, and went skidding down the slopes.
According to report, the aircraft, with one passenger on board, narrowly missed a group of children before passing under a chairlift onto a slope packed with skiers, clipping one woman and almost severing her hand.
The 55-year-old woman, from Poland, was evacuated to a local hospital by helicopter.
The accident is being investigated by the prosecutor’s office but the piste, which was evacuated and closed yesterday, has now reopened. “The resort is today fully open as usual,” said a spokeswoman.
The accident happened on the eve of the launch of the famous week-long Rock the Pistes festival, which takes place in Avoriaz and several other neighbouring resorts in France and Switzerland, which together makeup the Portes du Soleil ski area.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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