A small aircraft crashed and caught fire early Saturday afternoon in Wald im Pinzgau, Salzburg. Two hours after the incident, it remained unclear whether there were any injuries or fatalities. According to district fire chief Klaus Portenkirchner, the aircraft was likely a motor glider, possibly carrying between one and four people.

The crash occurred in difficult terrain near the Gerlosstraße B165. Local fire departments responded swiftly, battling not only the burning wreckage but also a small forest fire ignited by the crash. The flames were brought under control by 3:00 p.m., Portenkirchner reported.

Search Complicated by Terrain and Safety Concerns

Emergency services continued searching the area for occupants of the plane, but no parachute had yet been spotted in the trees, raising questions about whether the aircraft’s emergency system had been deployed. Due to the risk that pyrotechnic components used to trigger the parachute might still be active, the surrounding area was cordoned off.

Aircraft Identity and Number of Occupants Still Unknown

Initial but unconfirmed reports suggested that the pilot may not have been alone on board. However, authorities have not been able to verify the number or identity of the passengers. The closest airfield in Zell am See provided no information, stating that it could not confirm whether the aircraft had even taken off from there until the model was clearly identified.