BBC

Tuesday, 26 September, 2000, 18:32 GMT 19:32 UK Eight die in Swiss helicopter collision

The helicopters came down over a football field At least eight people have died and four others have been injured after two helicopters carrying tourists collided in western Switzerland.

A Swiss news agency quoted police in the Valais region as saying two helicopters belonging to a company called Air Glaciers had collided and crashed onto a football field near the town of Beuson.

The BBC correspondent in Geneva says most of the passengers are believed to be from the Indian sub-continent.

A police spokesman told the Reuters news agency that one Swiss pilot had died and added that other victims were Indians. He added that he would give no more details until their families had been informed.

The injured, who include the other pilot, have been taken to hospital.

Air Glaciers said an investigation was under way but gave no more details.

The Valais region includes some of Switzerland's most famous peaks, such as the Matterhorn.

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), September 26, 2000