A plane crash near Grenchen airport, Leuzigen, has left three individuals injured as emergency teams rushed to the scene Thursday morning. The aircraft, identified as a Socata TBM-700, went down shortly after reporting its arrival to the control tower.
The tower received its last communication from the aircraft at 11:18 AM, with the pilot confirming visibility for landing, saying, "Expect a full stop landing." A minute later, the pilot acknowledged, "Clear to land," but silence followed shortly after, with repeated attempts from the tower going unanswered.
By 11:28 AM, the tower had alerted other aircraft to the situation. A nearby pilot was asked for assistance to locate the downed TBM-700, leading to frantic search efforts. "We are taking course to Buechiberg," the pilot of the assisting aircraft announced at 11:29 AM, confirming their direction based on tower guidance.
When the location of the crash was suspected based on the last known coordinates, the crew reported observing "broken trees" but found no sign of the downed aircraft initially. The urgency increased when the search team had yet to spot the wreckage.
Finally, at around 11:38 AM, the assisting pilot exclaimed, "Yes, we have found it! Oh dear. There are already people there!" This prompted immediate dispatch of ambulance teams to the scene. Two women and one man aboard the downed flight sustained injuries, but the severity of these injuries has not been disclosed.
Emergency services, including two ambulance teams and a Rega helicopter, quickly arrived to aid the injured, transporting them to local hospitals for treatment. Reports from the local police indicated the incident was captured just before 11:30 AM when they were alerted of the crash.
The Socata TBM-700, noted for its capacity to carry five passengers, had taken off from Locarno earlier on the same day. Its route was planned for Grenchen, but the aircraft failed to arrive at its destination. Preliminary investigations have begun, with the Bern cantonal police, the Federal Prosecutor's Office, and the Swiss Safety Investigation Board all involved.
Witnesses reported seeing emergency vehicles flood the area, with local fire brigades mobilizing around twenty personnel to secure the site. Fortunately, fire was not reported as part of the aftermath, aiding rapid recovery efforts.
The crash triggers concern and speculation, as the pilot's sudden loss of communication with the tower raises questions about potential mechanical failure or pilot error. Investigations are still underway to ascertain the exact causes leading to this unfortunate event.
While the situation is developing, local authorities remain vigilant and have promised to provide updates as more information becomes available. The community around Leuzigen is hoping for the speedy recovery of the injured parties as the investigation moves forward.
Keep following local news sources for the latest updates on this incident and others affecting the area. This crash serves as yet another reminder of the risks associated with aviation, even for private flights.