The alarm of a helicopter crash was received by the Bern Cantonal Police on Saturday, 25 June 2022, shortly after 11.10 am.
According to the information issued by the police in a press release, the AS 350B3 Ecureuil HB-ZMC was carrying out a transport flight in the Wiriehorn region (municipality of Diemtigen) when, while landing about ten metres above the ground, it collided with a cable during the manoeuvre about 200 metres above the locality known as 'Underi Heitere' and crashed.
After the accident, the flight attendant managed to leave alone the helicopter ingulfed by flames and free the pilot from the helicopter. Third persons also gave first aid.
The 49-year-old pilot was seriously injured and was transported to hospital by a Rega helicopter in critical condition.
The 26-year-old flight attendant was injured and, after receiving first aid on the spot, was transported to hospital by a second Rega helicopter.
According to initial investigations, the two people involved were collecting a dead cow from an alpine pasture when the accident occurred. A second flight attendant had already been left on the ground. He was not injured.
Various services of the Berne cantonal police, two Rega rescue teams, the fire brigades of Diemtigen, Spiez and Thun, and the Berne cantonal assistance team were on the scene.
In order to clarify the exact course of events and the cause of the accident, experts of the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB) have opened an inquiry.