An Italian man 33, dies above the Chamonix Valley on Wednesday 8 June at 11:30. The fatal impact prematurely terminated a wingsuit flight from the summit of the Aiguille du Midi (3,842m), in the Mont Blanc massif.
The pilot launched from the summit of Aiguille du Midi at approximately 11:30am on Wednesday. Significantly, he was alone at the time of the launch, there were no other wingsuit companions with him and crucially, he took off into poor visibility. The fact that he was flying alone is the main reason why he wasn't reported missing until Saturday evening, some 80 hours after he took off! The Chamonix PGHM initiated a search with a helicopter and with gendarmes on foot, but they were unable to find the victim. As more people came forward with information and a probable flight plan, the PGHM was able to narrow their search and the victim's body was found at 2,000m altitude, in a couloir leading into the Bossons glacier.
The body was recovered on Sunday 12 June.
According to the PGHM, the victim moved recently to the Chamonix valley. On the morning of the fatal flight, and in compliance with PGHM regulations, the victim did inform the PGHM of his intention to fly from the Aiguille du Midi later that morning.
An investigation has been initiated to establish all the facts relating to this tragic accident.
