Following Saturday’s fatal plane crash in Wald im Pinzgau that claimed four lives, police have released more information about the victims. The deceased include a 70-year-old man from Bavaria, his 33-year-old son, and the son’s 33-year-old girlfriend, all from Regensburg. The pilot, aged 59, also came from the Ebersberg district in Bavaria. The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The single-engine light aircraft had departed from Oberschleißheim airfield near Munich for a scenic flight. Around midday, it crashed for reasons yet to be determined near Königsleiten, roughly 100 meters above the Gerlos Road (B165), in difficult terrain. The aircraft appears to have caught fire immediately upon impact, killing all four people on board.
Investigation Underway, Area Initially Closed for Safety
It remains unclear who alerted emergency services. Firefighters from surrounding areas were dispatched and battled both the aircraft blaze and a resulting forest fire, which was extinguished by 3:00 p.m. According to district fire chief Klaus Portenkirchner, the plane likely sparked a small wildfire. Due to potential risk from the aircraft’s emergency parachute pyrotechnics, the area was temporarily closed off, delaying public updates.
Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the crash. The Salzburg public prosecutor’s office has ordered autopsies for all four victims, the securing of the wreckage, and the appointment of an aviation expert to support the investigation.
