Receding Glacier Reveals Wreckage from 1968 Swiss Plane Crash

8th August 2022

Last modified on August 12th, 2022

A mountain guide has found wreckage of a plane that crashed in 1968 on the Aletsch glacier in Switzerland. As the glaciers melt across the mountains more of their secrets are being given up.

The wreckage comes from a Piper Cherokee aircraft under the registration HB-OYL.

The plane had crashed in the area on June 30th 1968.

On board the plane were a teacher, a chief medical officer and his son, who were all from Zurich.

The bodies were recovered at the time, but the wreckage was not.

Parts of an airplane were found on the Aletsch Glacier in the municipality of Fieschertal, 54 years after the crash.

New routes have been established on the glacier due to its melting and a guide spotted the wreckage last week.

In 1968 the technical means to recover an aircraft wreck in difficult terrain were limited, the cantonal police said in a statement.

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

If found, the authorities warn that these items should not be handled in order to avoid any risk of injury.

“We ask that you mark the wreckage and report it to the nearest police station, but do not touch it as there is a risk of injury,” said the Valais Police in the statement.

The salvage work is being planned and will be carried out as soon as possible.

Here on PlanetSKI we have reported on interesting finds as glaciers melt.

One is further discoveries on the Bossons glacier in the Mont Blanc massif, which has revealed other remains since a plane crashed on 24th January 1966, killing everyone on board: