Emergency services scrambled yesterday morning after a lone pilot in a small plane crashed into Lake Constance.
Police and firefighters launched an immediate search and found the 70-year-old in the water 800 meters from the shore, suffering from hypothermia. He’s now recovering in hospital.
At 11:30 the Piper aircraft was on approach to Altenrhein airfield close to the lake – but there was thick fog. It seems the pilot misjudged the approach and hit the water.
It’s not the first time this pilot, who lives in Ticino, has caused panic.
15 years ago, he flew from Frankfurt and crossed the Swiss border – but due to electrical problems he didn’t make contact with air traffic control and triggered a response by two Swiss F/A 18s which escorted him down.
Federal authorities have launched an investigation into the current crash.
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